Rhode Island § 6-17-1 - Bucket Shops

§ 6-17-1. Definitions.

The following words and phrases used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, have the following meanings:

(1) “Bucketing” or “bucket shopping” means:

(i) The making of or offering to make any contract respecting the purchase or sale, either upon credit or upon margin, of any securities or commodities, in which both parties to the contract intend, or the keeper intends, that the contract shall be, or may be, terminated, closed, or settled according to or upon the basis of the public market quotations of prices made on any board of trade or exchange upon which the securities or commodities are dealt in, and without a bona fide purchase or sale of the securities or commodities;

(ii) The making of or offering to make any contract respecting the purchase or sale, either upon credit or upon margin, of any securities or commodities in which both parties intend, or the keeper intends, that the contract shall be or may be deemed terminated, closed, or settled when the public market quotations of prices for the securities or commodities named in the contract shall reach a certain figure without a bona fide purchase or sale of the securities or commodities; or

(iii) The making of or offering to make any contract respecting the purchase or sale, either upon credit or upon margin, of any securities or commodities in which both parties do not intend, or the keeper does not intend, the actual or bona fide receipt or delivery of the securities or commodities, but do intend, or the keeper does intend, a settlement of the contract based upon the differences in the public market quotations of prices at which the securities or commodities are, or are asserted to be, bought and sold.

(2) “Bucket shop” means any room, office, store, building, or other place where any contract prohibited by this chapter is made, or offered to be made.

(3) “Commodities” mean anything movable that is bought and sold.

(4) “Contract” means any agreement, trade, or transaction.

(5) “Keeper” means any person owning, keeping, managing, operating, or promoting a bucket shop, or assisting to keep, manage, operate, or promote a bucket shop.

(6) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, or association, whether acting in his, her, or their own right or as the officer, agent, servant, correspondent, or representative of another.

(7) “Securities” mean all evidences of debt or property and options for the purchase and sale of debt or property, shares in any corporation or association, bonds, coupons, scrip, rights, choses in action, and other evidences of debt or property and options for the purchase or sale of debt or property.