Utah Gambling Laws
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. Utah Racing Betting Laws. Utah Code § 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. 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. Lawmakers fearful a good suggestion could be a ‘slippery slope’ that may open the door to playing within the.
- »Can You Play Legal Online Poker in the USA?
2021 Update: Is Online Poker Legal in Utah?
No, there’s still no regulated online poker in Utah. In fact, if you were going to bet on which state is the least likely to legalize online poker, Utah would be the favorite. Utah is a very strict state when it comes to gambling and is only one of two states that has absolutely no form of gambling out there.
It’s doubtful that online poker will come before they legalize a lottery. A good barometer for states willingness to expand gambling laws is how the state legislature reacted to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling overturning PASPA. PASPA, of course, outlawed sports betting throughout the United States and one of its main architects was Sen. Orrin Hatch from Utah. Not a good start. Secondly, after the ruling, a spokesperson for Gov. Gary Herbert said:
“Governor Herbert appreciates the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of states rights to regulate gambling within their borders, a right Utah will exercise by continuing to prohibit gambling within our state.”
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (Photo by Tracy Zhang on Unsplash)
Utah Gambling Laws and Poker
Utah has strict and extensive laws regulating –well, outlawing and penalizing– gambling. Gambling is outlawed in the state constitution but it’s also covered in the Utah Code. Utah Code Section 76-10 covers every legal aspect of gambling in the state of Utah. The most basic part of any set of laws regulating gambling is defining what gambling actually is. This is the foundation that the rest of the law is built upon.
In Utah, gambling is defined as:
“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 or understanding that someone will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”
The key word here is chance , especially when it comes to poker. That’s because Poker was ruled to be a game of skill by a federal judge in 2012. This is what paved the way for Nevada to legalize online poker and then other states followed. What’s interesting here is the qualifier “an element of chance.” While poker is a game of skill, no one could argue that there’s no element of chance involved. Poker definitely falls under the Utah code.
Can I Play Online Poker on PokerStars in Utah?
Nope. Back before Black Friday in 2011 you could play PokerStars in Utah and all over the United States. But after that the site was barred from the United States for years. It’s only recently started making a comeback and is currently in two US states: New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
New Jersey was the first state to allow PokerStars back in and Pennsylvania followed suit in 2019. The site isn’t as big as it used to be though, since each state has segregated player pools. There are some sites that have emerged that take players from all 50 states though. Sites like BetOnline , Bovada and Ignition Poker have turned out to be pretty good PokerStars alternatives for US and Utah poker players. They have great rakeback and signup bonuses as well as great tournament series and guarantees.
If you want to read more about them, check out our full reviews below:
Are There Casinos In Utah
What forms of Legal Gambling are There in Utah?
If you’ve been reading up until this point, you’ve probably guessed the answer: None.
Utah is just one of two states –the other is Hawaii– that doesn’t have any kind of legal gambling in the state. There are no horse tracks, no state lottery and charitable gaming isn’t even allowed in Utah. Gambling is outlawed in the state constitution and the state’s heavily conservative legislature and state government has never made any step towards changing that.
Utah is not a gambling state at all and chances are good that it’ll never be one. The small relief for gamblers is that they’re fairly close to Nevada, a state that’s the nation’s capital when it comes to gambling.
Other States
Alabama – Alaska – Arizona – Arkansas – California – Colorado – Connecticut – Florida – Georgia – Hawaii – Idaho – Illinois – Indiana – Iowa – Kansas – Kentucky – Louisiana – Maine – Maryland – Massachusetts – Michigan – Minnesota – Mississippi – Missouri – Montana – Nebraska – New Hampshire – New Mexico – New York – North Carolina – North Dakota – Ohio – Oklahoma – Oregon – Pennsylvania – Rhode Island – South Carolina – Tennessee – Texas – Utah – Vermont – Virginia – Washington – West Virginia – Wisconsin – Wyoming
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.
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 Raffle Laws For Charity
Utah Charity Gambling Law
Utah Online Gambling Laws
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.