Are you looking to bet on blackjack or maybe just hosting a few buddies for poker night? Are you putting some money on the ponies at Dixie Downs or maybe just dropping $20 into your office March Madness pool and hoping the Utes make the Sweet Sixteen? Either way, the Beehive State’s gambling and gaming statutes cover a variety of wagering activities, nearly all of them illegal under state law. This is an introduction to gambling laws in Utah.
Gaming Law in Utah
Although other states have begun to relax their gambling statutes, permitting Indian casinos and other gaming venues like card rooms, certain types of gaming and gambling are still illegal under state gaming statutes. Utah’s gambling laws prohibit citizens from betting anything of value on the outcome of a contest, game, scheme, or gaming device.
Utah Gambling Statutes
The table below lists Utah’s gambling statutes.
| Code Section | Utah Code 76-10-1101, et seq.: Gambling; Utah Code 4-38-1, et seq.: Utah Horse Regulation Act |
| Gambling | 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. |
| Horse Racing/Off-Track Betting | Licensed horse racing and all wagering prohibited. |
| Dog Racing/Off-Track Betting | Prohibited. |
| Casinos Allowed? | Prohibited. |
| Other Kinds of Gambling-Related Activities Allowed or Banned | Lawful business transactions; playing amusement devices legal. Election wagering; possessing gambling records; confidence games illegal. Gambling fraud, promotion, possessing a gambling device or record all illegal. |
State gambling and gaming laws cover everything from Indian casinos and horse racing to state lotteries and election wagers. These gaming statutes can also provide for the government divisions or gaming commissions that regulate industry practices like employee licensing, game rules, and financial controls.
Additionally, some states have written strict zoning ordinances that separate gambling and gaming sites from schools and residential areas. There are also federal laws that can regulate gambling in the state, as all casinos and gaming establishments on Indian reservations must comply with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Utah law prohibits nearly all gambling and casinos in the state.
Related Resources for Utah Gambling Laws
Gambling and gaming law regulate a number of activities and are subject to change. If you would like legal assistance regarding a gambling matter, you can consult with a Utah gaming law attorney. You can also find additional articles and information on this topic by visiting FindLaw’s section on Gaming Law.
