- Source: Legality of fortune-telling
Laws regulating fortune-telling vary by jurisdiction. Some countries and sub-national divisions ban fortune-telling as a form of fraud. Laws banning fortune-telling have often been criticized as infringing upon the freedom of religion and speech or as being racially discriminatory against Romani people, due to the traditional importance of fortune-telling within Romani culture.
Australia
In Australia, most states and territories have repealed laws against fortune-telling that were inherited from English law. Fortune-telling remains a crime in Northern Territory and South Australia.
Canada
Federal law formerly criminalized fortune-telling under its law banning "Pretending to practise witchcraft, etc." The law formerly stated that anyone practicing fortune-telling "is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction." The law was repealed in 2018.
New Zealand
Section 16 of New Zealand's Summary Offences Act 1981 provides a one thousand dollar penalty for anyone who sets out to "deceive or pretend" for financial recompense that they possess telepathy or clairvoyance or acts as a medium for money through use of "fraudulent devices." However, it is not a criminal offence if it is solely intended for purposes of entertainment.
Nigeria
The Criminal Code Act of Nigeria bans fortune-telling as a form of witchcraft. Any person who "undertakes to tell fortunes" may be found guilty of a misdemeanor and imprisoned up to one year.
United States
= Maryland
=Fortune-telling and palm reading are illegal in Baltimore. Those convicted are guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined $500 or imprisoned for up to a year.
Montgomery County, Maryland's ban on fortune-telling was struck down by the Appellate Court of Maryland. The court ruled that fortune-telling was protected free speech under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The case was brought by a Romani man, with the help of the ACLU.
= New York
=Under New York state law, "a person is guilty of Fortune Telling when, for a fee or compensation which he or she directly or indirectly solicits or receives, that person claims or pretends to tell fortunes..."
See also
Fortune telling fraud
References
External links
The First Amendment Is for Fortune-tellers, Too, SecularHumanism.org
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