Additionally, the laws doesn't specifically outlaw gambling online at offshore sites. So, it's relatively safe, as well as common, for Utahns to dabble in online gambling at offshore sites. Online Poker in Utah. The same is true for online poker as online gambling in general. Some free online games, fantasy leagues, and Indian gaming sites that aren't strictly defined as Internet gambling. It's also illegal for businesses to run gambling websites and to solicit online. Mayne is proposing legislation to close loopholes in state law that she said gaming companies are exploiting. The bill would clarify which types of machines are legal and strengthen laws to ensure compliance with Utah's prohibition on any type of gambling. It would also increase criminal penalties for machine operators but not users. 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.'.
- »Is Online Poker Legal in the USA?
2020 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?
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah Today
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:
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
Utah residents might be wondering whether there are any legal gambling options out there. The laws that surround online gambling are somewhat murky. This has caused many non-professionals to misread the language, and spread rumors about the legality of online wagering. Don't believe the conjecture, which is mostly incorrect.
Stay here on LegalUtahGambling.com and the facts embedded within the complicated legalese will be presented to readers in plain English. Read all the way down this guide for a quick review of one of the best online gambling sites in the world, and learn how Utah players can get in on the action. Casino aix les bains diner spectacle. There is a wide world of gambling fun out there, and there has never been a better time to join in!
The federal laws surrounding sports betting are a little more complicated that the poker and casino regulations. Instead of leaving it up to individual states to decide whether to allow sports betting, the federal government has put a nationwide ban on it. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 found sports betting to be a 'national problem'. This effectively banned sports betting venues from operating in every state except for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. If you are in any other state in the nations, including Utah, you will not find a legal sports betting establishment. This has spurned the proliferation of illegal bookies in many US cities. We suggest staying away from these underground sports betting rackets, they are busted frequently, and your money will not be safe.
Utah, as well as almost every other state, does not have any laws regarding sports betting. This is because the PASPA banned it almost everywhere. There is no need for legal sections regarding something that is already outlawed. You will not find a legal sports betting establishment in Utah, but one state over, in Nevada, lie some of the only legal sportsbooks in the nation. If you feel like driving out of state, you can get in on some great sports betting in one of the only places that allow it.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah City
The Internet is where the sportsbook revolution is taking place. These overseas sites offer the fastest lines on all your favorite sports, and more wagering options than the land based counterparts. Millions of Americans sports fans frequent these sites every day, and they offer cutting edge sports books.
Go To: Legal Sports Betting Sites For Utah Bettors
The federal laws that regulate casino gambling are quite straightforward. The federal government mainly leaves it up to the individual states to decide whether to allow casinos. As of now, most states in the union do not allow land-based casinos. There are many online casinos located overseas that foster large communities of American gambling fans, and these are the best options for most people. The federal law that directly influences casino gambling is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, which outlaws the operation of online casinos in the US. This is why the legal sites all operate outside of America.
Utah has some of the harshest gambling laws in the nation. As of now, the 'Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.' Utah considers gambling a sin, so you will not find any casino gaming options in the state. There are no land-based casinos, gambling halls, or otherwise in the state. Nevada is only one state away, so if you feel like making a drive, world-class casinos are not very far.
The online gambling world is a whole other beast. The gaming laws in Utah do not regulate online casinos, but that doesn't mean you will go to jail for playing online slots, blackjack, or whatever your favorite game might be. In fact, there has never been a conviction for playing online casino games in the state of Utah, and that's why it is safe to say that Utah residents will not encounter any issues, legal or otherwise, when using reputable online casinos like those found on this website.
Go To: Legal Online Casinos For Utah Residents
The federal policy for poker is similar to the policy for casinos. The federal legislature leaves it up to the state to decide whether to offer regular poker. In the early 2000's online poker rooms were all the rage, but the UIGEA effectively shut them all down. There are no online poker sites in America, but there are many overseas sites that offer world-class poker action. The federal laws do not have any effect on the many overseas sites.
The State of Utah does not allow permit any land-based gambling activities, so it's safe to say that there are not going to be any legal poker venues. Beyond playing with friends at home, it is best to stay away from land-based poker rackets. Many unlawful elements are involved with the underground poker rooms that seem to pop up in every city in the nation. These rooms get busted frequently, and your money will not be safe. It is best to look elsewhere when searching for real money poker action.
Many online poker rooms located overseas cater to poker fans located in Utah. These sites operate out of places like Canada and the Republic of Panama, where running an online poker site is legal. Millions of US residents use these sites every day, and Utah players should not have a problem on any of these sites. You can play for any amount, from $0.05 games, to no-limit tables and tournaments. These sites offer more options than any land-based counterparts, and are always teeming with poker fans just like you.
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?
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah Today
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:
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
Utah residents might be wondering whether there are any legal gambling options out there. The laws that surround online gambling are somewhat murky. This has caused many non-professionals to misread the language, and spread rumors about the legality of online wagering. Don't believe the conjecture, which is mostly incorrect.
Stay here on LegalUtahGambling.com and the facts embedded within the complicated legalese will be presented to readers in plain English. Read all the way down this guide for a quick review of one of the best online gambling sites in the world, and learn how Utah players can get in on the action. Casino aix les bains diner spectacle. There is a wide world of gambling fun out there, and there has never been a better time to join in!
The federal laws surrounding sports betting are a little more complicated that the poker and casino regulations. Instead of leaving it up to individual states to decide whether to allow sports betting, the federal government has put a nationwide ban on it. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 found sports betting to be a 'national problem'. This effectively banned sports betting venues from operating in every state except for Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. If you are in any other state in the nations, including Utah, you will not find a legal sports betting establishment. This has spurned the proliferation of illegal bookies in many US cities. We suggest staying away from these underground sports betting rackets, they are busted frequently, and your money will not be safe.
Utah, as well as almost every other state, does not have any laws regarding sports betting. This is because the PASPA banned it almost everywhere. There is no need for legal sections regarding something that is already outlawed. You will not find a legal sports betting establishment in Utah, but one state over, in Nevada, lie some of the only legal sportsbooks in the nation. If you feel like driving out of state, you can get in on some great sports betting in one of the only places that allow it.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Utah City
The Internet is where the sportsbook revolution is taking place. These overseas sites offer the fastest lines on all your favorite sports, and more wagering options than the land based counterparts. Millions of Americans sports fans frequent these sites every day, and they offer cutting edge sports books.
Go To: Legal Sports Betting Sites For Utah Bettors
The federal laws that regulate casino gambling are quite straightforward. The federal government mainly leaves it up to the individual states to decide whether to allow casinos. As of now, most states in the union do not allow land-based casinos. There are many online casinos located overseas that foster large communities of American gambling fans, and these are the best options for most people. The federal law that directly influences casino gambling is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, which outlaws the operation of online casinos in the US. This is why the legal sites all operate outside of America.
Utah has some of the harshest gambling laws in the nation. As of now, the 'Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.' Utah considers gambling a sin, so you will not find any casino gaming options in the state. There are no land-based casinos, gambling halls, or otherwise in the state. Nevada is only one state away, so if you feel like making a drive, world-class casinos are not very far.
The online gambling world is a whole other beast. The gaming laws in Utah do not regulate online casinos, but that doesn't mean you will go to jail for playing online slots, blackjack, or whatever your favorite game might be. In fact, there has never been a conviction for playing online casino games in the state of Utah, and that's why it is safe to say that Utah residents will not encounter any issues, legal or otherwise, when using reputable online casinos like those found on this website.
Go To: Legal Online Casinos For Utah Residents
The federal policy for poker is similar to the policy for casinos. The federal legislature leaves it up to the state to decide whether to offer regular poker. In the early 2000's online poker rooms were all the rage, but the UIGEA effectively shut them all down. There are no online poker sites in America, but there are many overseas sites that offer world-class poker action. The federal laws do not have any effect on the many overseas sites.
The State of Utah does not allow permit any land-based gambling activities, so it's safe to say that there are not going to be any legal poker venues. Beyond playing with friends at home, it is best to stay away from land-based poker rackets. Many unlawful elements are involved with the underground poker rooms that seem to pop up in every city in the nation. These rooms get busted frequently, and your money will not be safe. It is best to look elsewhere when searching for real money poker action.
Many online poker rooms located overseas cater to poker fans located in Utah. These sites operate out of places like Canada and the Republic of Panama, where running an online poker site is legal. Millions of US residents use these sites every day, and Utah players should not have a problem on any of these sites. You can play for any amount, from $0.05 games, to no-limit tables and tournaments. These sites offer more options than any land-based counterparts, and are always teeming with poker fans just like you.
Go To: Legal Poker Sites For Utah Players
When looking for an online gambling site you want to keep a few things in mind. Check the numerous online gambling forums to see what members have to say about the various sites. Usually the ones that garner unanimous praise are the best. We have done much of this work for you, and uncovered the best gambling sites in the business right now.
Bovada.lv is by far the best gambling website in the world. This site has been serving up innovative gambling options for over two decades. Operating out of Quebec, Canada, Bovada is the place the pros play when they are not throwing dice in the land-based casinos. Offering a gigantic sportsbook, over 150 authentic virtual casino games, and every popular variant of poker, this site has it all. They operate on state-of-the-art gaming technology, and use the most up to date security protocols to ensure your money and information is safe. Bovada is unanimous considered the best online gambling site in operation, and has garnered acclaim from US media giants like USA Today and CBS Sports.
One of the best reasons to sign up at Bovada is to be able to claim their unique bonuses which are only offered on the web. Land-based casinos will not offer Welcome Bonuses in the ballpark of 100% your initial deposit. You won't need to spend money on overpriced drinks to enjoy yourself at Bovada, and they will literally pay you to play some games. One of the bonuses for online poker earns points for players every time they play a hand, which then converts into bonus cash. The virtual casino will pay you extra for consecutive winning rolls, and the sportsbook offers unprecedented amounts of bonus opportunities.
