Utah Gambling Laws
What types of gambling are legal in Utah?
There are no forms of legalized gambling in Utah. There has never been a serious effort to change that. Charities may not even hold bingo games. Native American tribes have been unable to negotiate gaming pacts with any Utah governors. The state is among the most conservative in the country, so it is unlikely there will be any legalized gambling in the state in the coming years.
Utah Gambling Laws. As stated, while online, offshore sportsbooks are 100% legal for Utah residents to use, those who simply glance at the Utah gambling laws might not come to that conclusion. After all, the state is so restricted re gambling that the government there doesn’t even operate a lottery! Utah Gambling Legislation Gambling in Utah has been defined as when a player places something of value up for risk upon the outcome of a game, contest, or gaming machine when the return is based on an element of chance, or it is in accordance with an agreement that an individual will receive something of value in the event of an outcome. Utah Gaming Laws. Et seq.; 4-38-1 et seq. Risking anything of value upon the outcome of a contest, game, scheme, or gaming device when the return or outcome is based upon an element of chance and is in accord with an agreement. Understanding that someone will receive something of value in the event of a. Gambling Laws in Utah. As any form of gambling is highly illegal in Utah, this pertains to sports betting as well. The states’ laws are so restrictive and comprehensive that even playing social casino games can be prosecuted. Utah along with Hawaii is considered one of the strictest states in terms of their gambling laws and enforcement.
Daily fantasy sports contests are as close to legalized gambling that exists in Utah. The games appear to fall under skill-based exceptions to gambling restrictions. There are no laws that regulate the contests and no opinion from a state attorney general on the topic.
Utah residents do not need to travel far to find casinos. Nevada borders it to the west. Residents in the Salt Lake City area drive to West Wendover, Nevada to play casino games. Those closer to the southern border drive to Mesquite or Las Vegas.
This list shows the types of gambling found in Connecticut and where to find it:
- Daily fantasy sports (online only)
Online Gambling in Utah
Daily fantasy sports contests are the only form of legalized online gambling in Utah. All major companies accept players from the state. This includes DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo. Online poker, casino games, sports betting and horse racing are all illegal in Utah, even if the site is offshore.
Online Gambling Laws in Utah
Utah Code § 76-10-1102 makes all forms of online gambling illegal in the state. A person that offers online gambling in Utah is guilty of a third-degree felony. Participating in online gambling, including players, class B misdemeanor. Subsequent convictions become class A misdemeanor.
In the late 2000’s, there was a push to legalize online gambling in the United States. The most likely federal bill would have required states to opt out or be automatically included. Utah preemptively opted out through this same law, though it never passed Congress.
Land-based Casinos in Utah
There are no casinos in Utah. These are deemed illegal in the state constitution. Utah residents looking to gamble must go to commercial casinos in Nevada or tribal ones in Idaho and Wyoming.
Casino Laws in Utah
Utah Code § 76-10-1102 makes all forms of live gambling illegal in the state. A person that provides gambling in Utah is guilty of a third-degree felony. Participants commit a class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A misdemeanor on subsequent offenses.
Sports Betting in Utah
Sports betting is illegal in Utah. This includes online and live sportsbooks.
Sports Betting Laws in Utah
Utah Code § 76-10-1101 defines gambling, in part, as “risking anything of value for a return or risking anything of value upon the outcome of a contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device.” Betting on a sporting event qualifies as a contest or game. A person that operates a sportsbook in Utah is guilty of a third-degree felony. Players are guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Future offenses become class A misdemeanors.
Poker in Utah
There are no commercial poker rooms in Utah. That is illegal.
Poker Laws in Utah
Poker is illegal in the state under Utah Code § 76-10-1101. The game involves an element of chance, which is one of the gambling definitions under state law.
Home Poker Games
There is no social gaming exception in Utah. Home poker games are just as illegal as commercial ones, even if the game is fair and no rake is taken by the house.
Fantasy Sports in Utah
Fantasy sports contests appear to be legal in Utah. The games have never been challenged in court in the state. All major daily fantasy sports operators accept players from the state. This includes DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Draft and Yahoo. Players must be at least 18 years old.
Fantasy Sports Laws in Utah
There are no laws that specifically address fantasy sports in Utah. The games are believed to be legal. However, the operators are not regulated.
Utah Lottery
Utah is one of five states without a lottery. The others are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada. Players looking to buy a lottery ticket will need to drive to Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming or Idaho for it.
Utah Lottery Laws
Utah Code § 76-10-1101, as well as the state constitution, forbid lotteries of any form. Article VI, Section 27, of the Utah Constitution states, “The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.”
Utah Horse Racing
Betting on any form of racing is illegal in Utah.
Utah Racing Betting Laws
Utah Code § 76-10-1101 makes betting on any contest or game a class B misdemeanor. Subsequent convictions become a class A misdemeanor. Booking bets on racing is a third-degree felony.
Utah Skill-based Gaming Laws
Utah bans any gambling situation if there is an element of chance. This narrows the forms of legal gaming to games that are entirely skill. A bowling, pool or contest of strength or skill is permitted for wagering purposes. Any contest that uses cards, numbers, or anything else that has an element of chance, is illegal.
eSports
There are no laws on the books in Utah that address eSports. Presumably, participants in a contest could place a wager with each other, while participants would be committing a class B misdemeanor by violating the state’s gambling laws.
Traditional Games of Skill
Traditional games of skill are legal in Utah. This includes sites like Worldwinner and any popular mobile apps.
Skill-based Gaming Machines
Skill-based gaming machines are legal if there is no luck involved at all. These games are typically found in arcades and taverns.
Utah Charity Gambling Law
All forms of gambling are illegal in Utah. This includes the types of games offered by charities in most other states, like bingo and raffles.
Utah Gambling FAQ
If gambling were alcohol, the state could be considered “dry.” Utah is one of only two U.S. states to prohibit gambling. Utah permits no state lottery, tribal gambling, race betting, or nything of the sort. But just because gambling is illegal, does not mean that people don’t gamble. As in probably all other states and places, underground gambling occurs. Individuals and groups have attempted to get around Utah laws by setting up poker rooms and halls for bingo play, but the state has counteracted those attempts. Gambling in the state is outlawed primarily on religious principled grounds. Even though states are bound by the U.S. Constitution and cannot have state theocracies, faith-based principles often influence communities and legislators and therefore affect state law such as is the case with gambling.
Although gambling was a regular past time for people in other western states during the 19th century, Utah was settled by Mormons in the mid-1800s, settling Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Although not Puritans, they brought puritanical (conservative) beliefs with them, including a prohibition of gambling as per the Christian Bible. Despite the staunchness of Mormon convictions in the state, from 1925 to 1927, betting on horse races was legal but shortly thereafter made illegal again.
Utah Gambling Laws
Online Gambling
There is no legal gambling in the state, so it follows that online gambling would also be viewed as being illegal. In 2012 the Utah lawmakers banned any form of gambling online. If online gambling becomes legal on the federal level, Utah is automatically opted out. Almost poker sites have stopped accepting players from Utah, Americas Cardroom is the only poker room allowing new players from Utah.
Recent Developments
Is There Gambling In Utah
Occasionally, people and small movements form to legalize gambling in the state. However, since many in the population are Mormon, there tends to be a meeting of minds on the issue and thus opponents overwhelmingly continue to have the support needed to keep the activity illegal. The closest the state came to legalizing gambling was in the 1990s via a public referendum in which there was a 60-40 vote to allow horse race betting again. The proposition failed.
Casinos in Utah
There are absolutely no casinos in the state and there never will be.
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Michigan Gambling Laws
Sources/References
Gambling Laws By State
- Romboy, Dennis. (2013, July 5). Utahns Find Ways to Gamble despite it Being Illegal in the State- but the Cost is High. Retrieved from Deseret News
- History.com. (n.d.). Mormons Settle Salt Lake Valley. Retrieved from History.com