The State of Sports Betting Legislation in Utah
If you’re permanently moving to Utah or visiting friends or relatives for a few days, you surely want to know what kind of entertainment this state offers. If you’re an avid gambler, online slots and sports betting might be your primary sources of entertainment. But, before you go, you should learn a bit more about the gambling legislation in Utah as you might be in for a surprise. Keep on reading to prepare yourself.
Is sports betting legal in Utah?
If you were hoping to engage in sports betting in Utah, we have some bad news. Sports betting is not legalized. As a matter of fact, Utah’s State Constitution prohibits gambling of any kind. If you have any knowledge of the state, this should come as no surprise. Alongside Hawai, and with more than half of the population belonging to the Mormon faith, Utah is one of the only two states that don’t allow any forms of gambling. The state doesn’t allow casinos, charitable gaming, horse racing, or bingo. That means that not even state-run lotteries are available.
Furthermore, if anyone breaks the gambling laws in Utah, whether by participating in gambling or permitting gambling to be conducted, they can be charged with Class A or Class B Misdemeanor. According to the state rulebook, that could mean six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000 for Class B Misdemeanor or up to $2,500 for Class A Misdemeanor.
Is There any Chance to Legalize it?
While the rest of the states decided to introduce gambling in one form or another after PASPA was struck down in 2018, Utah and Hawaii maintained their stance when it comes to betting.
However, can we expect Utah to legalize sports betting or any other kind of gambling in the near future? Not really, no. This is a state with conservative religious values and strict gambling laws, which will seemingly not be changing any time soon.
What is more, the state’s criminal code actually states that even if there is any federal law that makes Internet gambling legal in the states, Utah will opt out of Internet gambling if given the chance.
What is the future of online gambling in Utah?
When it comes to online gambling in Utah, the situation is pretty much the same. Just like the chances of Utahans making gambling available in casinos or sports betting shops are slim. According to World Sports Network (WSN.com); this reflects the state’s zero-tolerance attitude towards all forms of gambling.
In case Utah does a huge 180, however, there are some websites that could enter the field first. Canadian-based Sports Interaction is looking to expand into the US and this might be a market they are interested in. Caesars and SugarHouse Sportsbook are also rapidly expanding so keep an eye out if Utah ever decides to change its laws.
Where can Utah residents go if they want to gamble?
If you’re moving to Utah and you’re used to gambling whenever you feel like it, you will have to make some adjustments to your habits. For one, you can try gambling on out-of-the-state websites.
On the other hand, you can take a trip to Nevada and get your dose of sports betting that way. From online betting to land-based casinos, you can do much more than just bet on sports. This approach has been used by Utahans for ages and works perfectly.
Once you are no longer in Utah, simply look up sports betting websites through a reliable review site and decide which one you want to bet on. Then, create an account for yourself and make a deposit. Familiarize yourself with how the website works and place a bet – simple as that.
Are There Economic Benefits of Legalizing Gambling?
Even though Utah seems to be nowhere near legalizing any form of gambling, this could actually have several economic benefits for the state.
Just take New Jersey for example. This state acted as soon as PASPA was struck down and legalized gambling, which comes as no surprise as it was NJ that fought to declare it unconstitutional. By helping this sector grow, New Jersey found a great way to increase its budget. Even with the global pandemic, New Jersey’s sportsbooks saw $931 million in wagers only in November 2020, which in turn produced over $6 million in state taxes. In addition to this economic boost, more jobs were created as well.
With such a strong influence of their faith, it’s not shocking that Utah hasn’t yet legalized any form of gambling and that it has no plans for doing it in the near future. However, if it ever undergoes a dramatic transformation, there is a big economic boost waiting. In the meantime, residents can go to Nevada or some other state when in need of some gambling entertainment.
