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
[edit]In Australia, most states and territories have repealed laws against fortune-telling that were inherited from English law. Fortune-telling remains a crime in the Northern Territory and South Australia.[1]
Canada
[edit]Federal law in Canada 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that anyone practicing fortune-telling "is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction."[2] The law was repealed in 2018.[3]
New Zealand
[edit]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.[4]
Nigeria
[edit]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.[5]
United States
[edit]California
[edit]In 1985, the California Supreme Court struck down a law against fortune-telling.[6]
Maryland
[edit]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.[7]
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.[8] The case was brought by a Romani man, with the help of the ACLU.[9]
New York
[edit]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..."[10]
Virginia
[edit]In 2024, the city of Norfolk, Virginia repealed their law banning "the practice of palmistry, palm reading, phrenology or clairvoyance, for monetary or other compensation". The law had been in place for 45 years.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "How fortune-telling took hold in Australia — with women as clients and criminals". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Pretending to practise witchcraft, etc". Government of Canada. January 2003. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Criminal Code". Government of Canada. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
365 [Repealed, 2018, c. 29, s. 41]
- ^ "Summary Offences Act 1981". Parliamentary Counsel Office (New Zealand). Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Section 424 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria. Pretending to exercise witchcraft or tell fortunes". Jurist.ng. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "State High Court Rules Out Ban on Fortune-Tellers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF BALTIMORE CITY" (PDF). Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Court Overturns Ban On Fortune-Telling". WAMU. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "The Gypsy Queen of Baltimore*". Maryland Center for History and Culture. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Fortune Telling" (PDF). Courts of New York. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "Virginia city repeals ban on psychic readings as industry grows and gains more acceptance". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
External links
[edit]- The First Amendment Is for Fortune-tellers, Too, SecularHumanism.org