• Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah Coronavirus
• Is Online Gambling Legal In Utah
• Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah Right Now

No form of gambling has ever been legal in the State of Utah, and the recent passage of a law banning online gambling gives the impression that Utah legislators want to keep it that way.

House Bill 108, originally introduced by Utah Rep. Stephen Sandstrom in January, quickly passed through the Utah legislature in March. The law makes any form of online gambling illegal within Utah’s borders. And the penalty is fairly stiff. Lawmakers agreed to make “playing poker or gambling in the state via the Internet a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.” It was further learned that, if not for the lobbying efforts of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the offense may have been a felony, as several legislators had proposed.

Taking the Risk – Gambling in Spite of the Law

Utah’s state constitution and code leaves no gray area whatsoever when it comes to gambling. Article VI of the Utah Constitution simply says, “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.” After that, the constitution defines gambling and all its forms as illegal in no uncertain terms, and also defines those who attempt to provide a means for gambling or possess anything relating to or promoting gambling as in violation of the law^[1].

Despite Utah’s clear-cut opposition to gambling, casinos in neighboring states have long since set up shop in or near border towns, giving Utah residents opportunities to cross state lines and gamble as they wish. “Several casinos in Mesquite, Nevada (in Clark County thirty miles from St. George), and Wendover, Nevada (in White Pine County 100 miles from Salt Lake City), market their products to Utah gamblers^[2].”

If border states are reaching out, online gambling can certainly reach in. But Internet gamblers will be risking it all after Gov. Gary Herbert signed HB 108 into law in March, effectively making Utah the first state to opt out of any possible federal legislation that might legalize Internet gambling. “Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed an anti-gambling bill into law that was passed by the state’s legislature earlier this month that will allow the Beehive State to opt out and exclude itself from any online poker legislation that may be enacted at the federal level. One of the main clauses in the legislation stated, ‘If any federal law is enacted that authorizes Internet gambling in the states and that federal law provides that individual states may opt out of Internet gambling, this state shall opt out of Internet gambling in the manner provided by federal law and within the time frame provided by that law.’”

Online gambling has been a subject of heavy debate in Utah. Utah Online Gambling remains legal despite all legal opposition. Utah players will find that online casnios, sportsbooks, and poker rooms allow them to play the games they love at no personal risk. In Utah, all forms of gambling are illegal. There is no state lottery. There are no casinos. There will be no legal online gambling in Utah because, in 2012, the state's government passed a bill that would exempt it from any future federal laws permitting online gambling. Utah and Hawaii are the only two states where all types of gambling are illegal. There are no tribal casinos, poker rooms, and sports gambling and horse and dog race betting are both illegal. On the sports betting issue, that legality may change with a recent federal law overturned, but as of August 2018 nothing has happened on that front. The first thing anyone should do when analyzing Utah gambling laws is to see how the actual act of gambling is defined. In chapter section 2 of state legislation, gambling in Utah is defined as “risking anything of value upon the outcome of a contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device.”.

PPA Executive Director John Pappas said Utah’s opt-out wasn’t surprising because of the state’s anti-gambling stance. He hopes, however, that it does not start a trend. “It will be interesting to see if other states follow this lead, but I think the PPA will be better suited to fight this in other states because other states have gaming to begin with. Utah is a state where gambling is a sin. You don’t have that in other states so I think it will be much harder for other states to outlaw this.”

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah Coronavirus

Long-standing Beliefs

Brigham Young settled in Utah with his Mormon followers in 1847, and since then the state has been the epicenter for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormon Church’s stance on gambling is clear. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opposed to gambling, including lotteries sponsored by governments. Church leaders have encouraged Church members to join with others in opposing the legalization and government sponsorship of any form of gambling.^[3]” And with more than 70 percent of modern-day Utah’s population being Mormon, most of the anti-gambling philosophy remains intact.

But just because Mormon settlers followed a doctrine so diametrically opposed to gambling doesn’t mean gambling didn’t occur. Quite the contrary, in fact. According to a January 2011 article on newswise.com^[4], gaming in Utah went on just as it had everywhere else before it was illegal. “In Utah, the history of gaming dates back to the arrival of the Mormon settlers in the 1840s,” said Robert M. Jarvis, professor of law at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “One of the first laws passed by the short-lived State of Deseret was a law prohibiting gambling. Gambling was an underground fixture in Utah during its territorial days, and that’s still true today, although in the 1920s Utah briefly allowed betting on horse racing.”

Outlook Not Good

With the history of anti-gambling in Utah, hopes of being able to gamble legally, online or in a casino within Utah borders doesn’t look promising at all. After the enactment of HB108, it appears as though there is little that gambling proponents can do to change the minds of the Utah Legislature and its predominantly Mormon population.

Citations and References

[1]Utah’s gambling laws by GamblingLawUS
[2]Gambling in Utah by GamblingAmerica
[3]Mormon policy on gambling by LDS.org
[4]The history of gambling in states where gambling is illegal by NewsWire.com

The state of Utah is one of the few states where gambling is almost completely outlawed. Not even social gambling is allowed, but you do have one option - online gambling. What we have to show you is the legalities of online gambling in Utah, as well as where you can gamble if you decide to. We are sure you can find an option that will fit your needs, which is a good thing due to the fact that there are no live gambling options in the state. The Internet is the only option you really have, and this is what we are here to explain.

NFL Betting In Utah

Bettors are so excited because of how many games that will be played during the NFL seasons. Players should have their bankroll full preparing to play one of the best sports that fans love to watch and bet on. Online sportsbooks will have everything players can bet on with an age requirement of 18 and older. This is is one reason why more players will sign up for online betting sites. They are great prop bets up and there is also a lot of deposit methods that they will a chance to choose from. All of this can be done at home which means betting at home could be a comfortable place for many bettors. Utah residents will have many sportsbooks options and online sportsbooks are top of the list.

Online Gambling Age For Utah Residents

Before you start trying to gamble online, you will want to wait until you are 21 years of age before you can start playing. There is no form of gambling that you can access before 21 inside Utah, so don't bother trying. Of course, given that there’s no form of local gambling you can access legally at any age, it seems like a moot point, and mostly is. We only recommend sticking to 21 in the very remote chance that you ever have to explain your gambling activities to the authorities.

Just FYI, online gambling sites that serve Utah residents only require their members to be at least 18 years old in order to sign up, so if you’re a younger player and desperate to wager, you can do so provided you’re 18 or older. And no UT resident has ever been fined or arrested for Internet gambling, whether they’re 18, 21, or any other age.

However, bear in mind that online gambling sites take their TOS very seriously. If you sign up under the age of 18, you will have your account banned and all your holdings permanently confiscated by the site in question. It’s definitely not worth it to gamble underage at online sportsbooks!

Utah Online Gambling Laws

The laws of gambling in Utah have made it so there are no options for you to play in the state, in live settings at least. The legislature has, however, done nothing to make it a crime for you to play the games online. With a lack of any clear-cut law, it is very difficult to actually to determine the legal status of online gambling in Utah. Suffice it to say that nobody has ever faced negative legal consequences for doing so, and there are nearly half a million avid gamblers in the state that use these online sites every year. For more information about Utah’s staunch and restrictive gambling laws, please read over Utah Code 76-10-1102 et seq. here.

Gambling Sites That Accept Utah Residents

Various gambling sites are open to Utah residents, and we are here to give you a brief selection of the best of these. We claim they are the best for various reasons, including big bonuses, easy deposits, favorable odds and fair play. Fair play and integrity were the two main points of scrutiny when we came to each of these gambling sites, so you can always know that you are going to enjoy a fluid gaming experience.

The best online gambling sites for Utah residents are Bovada, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, BetOnline, BookMaker, and BetDSI. These sites are all-in-one gambling destinations, offering sports betting, casino gaming, live poker, and racebooks.

For more casino-centric experiences that focus just on table games and video poker, you can check out sites like Lucky Red, the High Noon Casino, Slots.lv, Aladdin’s Gold, and other service providers with reputations for fairness, prompt payouts, great bonuses, and awesome customer service.

Bovada - Online Casino With Live Dealer Games

Your best way to collect more money is via Bovada. These online sportsbooks aren’t just for sports! You have plenty of things you can bet on and there is also an online casino there as well for those who like to go to casinos! All the things you can do at the Las Vegas and out of state casino, you can do on the online casino here on Bovada! This is a great bonus and it includes having a live dealer! This is great and you still have blackjack and slots that you can play. There are plenty of games that can be played at this online casino feature! This is where you have the chance to capitalize on making a lot of money. Go To Bovada!

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Online Casinos That Accept Utah Residents

Online casinos are some of the most diverse forms of online gambling. There are several types of online casino software out there, but we have primarily dabbled in the RTG (Realtime Gaming) brand, which powers most of the Internet’s top sites. We have tested these casinos to make sure that they provide our readers with a safe and fair gaming experience, and they have all succeeded at this task, with flying colors!

For Utah gamblers looking to place bets over the Internet, the best sites for casino-centric gaming are places like Lucky Red, Aladdin’s Gold, the High Noon Casino, and Slots.lv. Of course, all the top sports betting sites also offer robust casino gaming options, so don’t forget to give those the once-over, too.

Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept Utah Residents

Whether it is the Jazz or any other team from around the nation, indeed around the world, you can bet on them through various online sportsbooks. Utah online sports betting sites will let you have the feel of Las Vegas without actually being there. These books come replete with odds across most types of games, from US-based professional and collegiate teams to international soccer, rugby, and cricket clubs, to name just a few. The top online sports betting sites for UT residents are the usual suspects, with Bovada, SportsBetting, BetOnline, 5Dimes, BetDSI, and BookMaker leading the way.

Online Poker Sites That Accept Utah Residents

Dedicated online poker rooms are not something that we promote very often, as most of them are simply not worth it. If you are going to play poker over the Internet, however, there are definitely still sites out there that will allow you to do so in a safe and secure environment. In addition to the aforementioned sportsbooks, which all have live-dealer and multiplayer poker tables and tournaments, you can elect to go with one of the dedicated casino sites (Lucky Red, etc.) if video poker games are more your bag. Regardless of which site or style you choose, of course, you’re guaranteed to have a good time.

Online Bingo Sites That Accept Utah Players

You know a state is conservative when even bingo gambling is outlawed, and this is the case in Utah. You will have no problems hitting the cards for real cash if you decide to take to the online bingo halls available in the state, however. The best sites for real-money Internet bingo are 5Dimes and Downtown Bingo, with the latter being wholly dedicated to the game and offering by far the best daily perks and deposit bonuses to new and returning customers.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Utah?

Players are always asking the question of whether or not online gambling is legal in Utah. While the laws make it illegal for land-based gambling operations in the state, there is nothing that has been codified into the law that makes it illegal for online gambling operators to offer their wares from overseas. Indeed, online gambling is not even specifically listed in the state statutes. The great debate is out to determine whether or not existing gambling laws have anything to do with online gambling, so this is really a question better left to lawyers.

Gambling laws in Utah are some of the most detailed there are in the country, as UT is one of only two states that does not have any form of legal gambling whatsoever. While the law makes it clear that it is illegal to “promote gambling” in the state, this is directed at advertisers and operators, not individual players. Still, many who read UT’s gambling laws assume that players are also targeted, and depending upon one’s interpretations, this could be construed to be legitimate. Again, if you have any questions or concerns re the legality of Utah gambling over the Internet, you should consult a local lawyer.

That being said, players can still enjoy legal online gambling sites as long as they are using licensed and regulated options that operate outside of the country. While Utah has plenty of laws that ban forms of gambling, one thing they don’t mention is the word “online” or “Internet” gaming.

As far as federal laws go, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992), which was only recently struck down by the Supreme Court, is why US gambling sites were largely located offshore. However, despite PASPA – and even with PASPA now no longer in effect – it seems unlikely that the UT legislature would have made gambling and sports betting legal in the state any time in the past. Still, a residual side effect of PASPA is that, as long as a gambling site is operating offshore and provides services to Utah players, you are safe to enjoy that site.

Are Utah Residents Allowed To Gamble At Bovada?

Recently, Bovada has lifted its restrictions against residents of Utah and now everyone who wants to play in the company’s online casino, bet sports in their sportsbook, or match skills in their online poker rooms are allowed to do so. This is awesome news, as Bovada is a recommended gambling site for any of the aforementioned gaming types, plus they have one of the biggest international racebooks of any gambling site that takes Utah residents.

Are Online Casinos Legal In Utah?

You will probably never see a live, land-based casino in Utah, but you will have access to online casinos as long as you have an Internet connection. No clear-cut law has been written regarding online casinos, so the question of their legality is not one that can be answered with 100% certainty. The one major takeaway here is that nobody has ever been fined or arrested for gambling over the Internet in UT, and you are not likely to be the first.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Utah?

The laws regarding sports gambling are fairly confusing. Beyond federal laws, there are also the various state laws that pertain to land-based gambling. Depending on your legal interpretation of the Utah Code, online sports betting could be legal in the state. However, even if it technically isn’t, we can basically assure you that you are not going to jail for betting on sports on the Internet, so do not worry about this.

Is Online Poker Legal In Utah?

Utah residents who are looking to play a game of poker may not even legally congregate in their homes to play the games (but they do this anyway). That said, not everyone has a reliable poker night on their schedules, and many folks won’t find real-life players to play against locally. Naturally, the Internet serves as a viable alternative due to there being no UT laws that make it a crime for you to play poker over the Internet. With a huge selection of live-dealer and real multiplayer poker tables and tourneys, online poker in UT is the only way to play!

Online Horse Racing Sites For Utah Residents

Is Online Gambling Legal In Utah

Those of you still looking for online horse racing sites for Utah residents to use should make sure you are getting the most out of the site you choose. All of the best options provide players with odds on every big race there is as well as a solid listing of some smaller race tracks as well. You also want to make sure you are being offered opportunities to win back money, whether it be in bonus form or a rebate option. These are standard benefits from the top sites so don’t miss out on what you are owed.

Can I Bet On Horse Racing In Utah

Betting on horse racing in Utah is permissible if you are using an offshore online gambling site. We mentioned already that Utah does not allow any form of gambling at all, so your horse racing betting has to be enjoyed at an offshore site where the state laws do not have any jurisdiction. The best online racebooks for UT residents are located at the big sportsbooks that serve the region, including Bovada, SportsBetting, and the others mentioned above.

Best Funding Methods For Utah Online Gambling Sites

The best funding methods for Utah online gambling sites is really all about what your preference is. The most popular methods for depositing money into your account are typically debit and credit card deposits, but Bitcoin and money orders are gaining more and more popularity as time goes on. Again, though, it’s all about personal preference, so you have to decide which method is best for you. For us, Bitcoin is the clear winner, but that might not be best for everyone. Fortunately, all the best UT betting sites have several different options suitable for players of all financial means.

Mobile Gambling Apps In Utah

There are mobile gambling options in Utah at each of the sites that we have provided on this page. Mobile gambling allows bettors to place their wagers from their iPhones, Android phones, iPads, or other tablets. As if gambling on the Internet wasn’t already as convenient as you could imagine, mobile gaming just upped the ante bigtime! Best of all, you don’t even need to download an app to use these on-the-go features. Instead, just visit your online gambling site of choice from your mobile device’s browser, and you’ll automatically get free access to the most efficient betting experience imaginable. With mobile betting, you can do everything you can do on the desktop site, just more quickly and more conveniently, from anywhere you happen to be.

Utah Gambling FAQ’s

Is there a fee for using my credit card?

Most sites do not have any deposit fees, but there are likely going to be small fees for using a credit card when withdrawing money at a gambling site. Some card providers will also charge a small international transaction fee of 3% to 7%.

Is gambling on the internet legal?

Gambling on the Internet is legal as long as you stick to the sites we have recommended on this page. They are all legally licensed and regulated betting sites, operating wholly outside of US legal jurisdiction and bound by the mandates of their home countries. Nobody has ever been arrested in Utah for using an offshore sports betting or gambling website.

What are the hours of operation?

Most sites allow you to place bets 24/7 with no limitations. In fact, their customer service is also available 24/7 so if you have any questions you can contact them whenever.

Will I go to jail for online gambling in Utah?

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah Right Now

Though most forms of gambling are illegal in Utah, there is not an explicit, written prohibition against online gambling in Utah. As such, you are not going to get arrested for gambling online in Utah. There is no known legal consequence to this form of adult entertainment. We have not seen any record of an arrest related to online gambling in the state.ss