Utah Casinos and Gambling

Utah is one of the least gambling-friendly states in America. The state has a strong Mormon influence, both spiritually and politically, and Mormons are traditionally very conservative. In the case of Utah, a conservative streak means the state has traditionally been against all forms of gambling, from state lotto to casino games to home poker games.

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Gambling Options in Utah

No gambling venues are currently open in the state of Utah, and everything indicates that it won’t be opened any time soon. A couple of bingo parlors in Salt Lake City operate under the gray area of the law, but they host a limited number of games and have small prizes compared to the large bingo parlors found in other parts of the US region.

The only glimmer of hope for gaming enthusiasts in Utah’s gambling-hostile environment comes in the form of Daily Fantasy Sports. While the legalization of sportsbetting seems nowhere on the horizon, those who enjoy betting on sports can still channel their competitive spirit into Daily Fantasy Sports content. It is the only legal way to get in a form of sports-related betting within the borders of this staunchly anti-gambling state.

Are Utah Casinos Legal?

No game that people outside the state would recognize as “gambling” is legal within the borders of Utah. No slot machines, no table games, no poker contests, and not even a state lottery system.

Given that the national lottery is legal in most US states, the fact that it is illegal in Utah once again confirms the fact that this state is, without a doubt, the most isolated of all forms of gambling.

When it comes to bingo, as mentioned earlier, organizing bingo events that require participants to pay to get into the game is strictly prohibited and entirely illegal. However, thanks to certain legal loopholes, there is room for the organization of “just for fun” bingo events. Simply put, commercial bingo halls are out of the question, but bingo can still be played in public places as long as it’s strictly for entertainment and not profit-driven. However, we should note that even though “play for fun” bingo is not explicitly mentioned in Utah’s gambling laws, there is still a risk that authorities could interpret it as illegal.

Social gambling is clearly illegal by Utah law – not because there is a law specifically outlawing it, but because of the spirit of state law. According to Utah law, “… gambling means risking something of value in a contest where the outcome is based on an element of chance with the understanding that someone will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.” Let’s take poker as an example. Organizing poker games is prohibited for all residents within Utah’s borders, even for events hosted in private homes. This means that gathering to play poker with friends in the privacy of your Utah home is can be interpreted as a violation of the norms of the state!

Anecdotally, private home games are extremely popular in Utah. It’s surely difficult for the state to monitor and arrest private gamblers because few such events have occurred over the years. Still, home and social games are illegal and it’s probably not a good idea to take part in them.

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More Facts about Utah Gaming Law

If you live in Utah and are interested in gambling, the news goes from bad to worse.

Check out this line added to the state penal code in 2014; subtitled “games of chance not authorized,” “The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.” This is from article 7, legislative department s 27, for those of you that want to look it up.

What does this mean? It sounds like the state government went out of its way to make it difficult for future legislators to enact new laws allowing most forms of gambling.

To put it simply, no significant changes are expected anytime soon regarding gambling regulations in Utah. Both the land-based and online gambling sectors remain stagnant, with little to no progress in sight.

Does this mean the state of Utah will be gambling-free forever? The question of whether Utah will legalize gambling is difficult to answer definitively. However, considering that in the past, states with a very negative attitude towards gambling have eventually legalized at least some forms of it, there is hope that Utah may also reconsider its stance on this issue.

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Conclusion

What are the options for gamblers living in Utah? There are two choices: travel to a nearby state where gambling is legal or stick with the available options -Daily Fantasy Sports, the only casual format allowed in Utah. If you prefer option A—visiting a nearby state—recommendations go to Nevada is an obvious choice. World-famous for its gambling scene centered around Las Vegas, which has long been one of the most popular destinations for land-based gambling.