Best Casinos in Utah 2024

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David Cooper | January 4, 2023 | Updated on: October 4th, 2024

casinos in Utah USA

If you are looking for casinos for in Utah, unfortunately, you won’t be able to find any. Along with Hawaii, Utah is not a gambling-friendly state. Nearly all forms of gambling are illegal under the Beehive state’s gambling laws. Players cannot place bets on sports nor will they find Utah Casinos offering blackjack, poker, craps, or any other casino favorites.

Gambling in the state has been reduced to playing social games where no real money is wagered and all games are played for fun. The stringent gambling laws also prohibit tribal casinos in Utah.

Lawmakers in Utah are continuously trying to ensure that there are no gaming options offered in the state. The state has also attempted to get web-based gambling banned at a federal level.

Utahans have to travel to nearby gambling states should they wish to place a bet on sports or play their favorite casino games. Our team of experts have come together to create a guide to gambling for Utahans. Read on for more information.

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. The Utah constitution states that the legislature will not authorize games of chance for any purpose.

The tough gambling laws in Utah have placed a 100% ban on gambling with no gray area. No forms of gambling are legal in the state.

Lottery betting is not allowed making it one of six states without a state lottery.
Land-based casinos are also not allowed.
Charitable gambling is banned.
Horse racing and off-track betting are prohibited.
Sports betting has also been barred from the state.

Gambling within state borders is a violation of the gambling laws and will be seen as a Class B misdemeanor. Should a player or operator have multiple gambling violations, it will result in a Class A misdemeanor

Utah casino gambling laws

Online Gambling in Utah

Players in Utah will not be able to place bets online as web-based gambling has also been barred from the state. The gambling laws in Utah have explicitly stated that should the federal law change in term of gambling online. The gambling form will remain illegal in Utah.

Utah Gambling History

Utah is a conservative state with a majority of its population opposing gambling. The state has had no serious attempts at legalizing gambling. Casinos in Utah were introduced in the 1800s to serve local miners.

However, by 1847, gambling was banned and anti-gambling legislation was implemented. Below is a brief timeline of the history of Utah’s gambling laws.

1925 to 1927 – horse racing was legalized however two years later the gambling form was banned.
1991 – a campaign was launched to legalize racing only for voters to reject the idea a year later.
2000 – the 2000s saw underground poker rooms and bingo establishments operate in the state before laws were set in place to the crackdown of the illegal establishments.
2012 – web-based gambling was banned in Utah and laws were structured to avoid any potential changes to the federal law