All of us have heard stories, maybe from friends or relatives in other states, about how one little $2 ticket turned into millions. And maybe we’ve dreamt about a chance to live on easy street and wondered how we can get in on the lotto action. But Beehive State residents are out of luck, because there's no state-sanctioned lottery here. This is an introduction to lotteries laws in Utah.
Lotteries Laws in Utah
There are just six states without a state-run lottery, and Utah is one. The others are western neighbors Nevada, Bible Belt states Alabama and Mississippi, and regional outliers Alaska and Hawaii. It may seem odd to allow certain gambling and gaming while outlawing a state lottery. But Utah’s state constitution is clear on the matter: “The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.†It is not illegal for Utah residents to purchase tickets for out-of-state lotteries, but the sale of lottery tickets from other states is prohibited within state lines.
The table below lists Utah’s state lotteries prohibition laws.
| Code Section | Prohibited. Utah Constitution Article VI, §27: Games of Chance Not Authorized |
| Distribution of Lottery Revenue | - |
| Additional Purpose of Lottery | - |
| Lottery Prize Subject to Garnishment | - |
| Time Limit to Claim Prize/Disposition | - |
| Prohibited Related Activities | - |
Lotteries Laws, Generally
In the states that do allow a government-sanctioned lottery, lottery laws can regulate everything from where, how, and to whom tickets can be sold, to how long a winner has to claim a prize and which programs will receive lottery revenues. The majority of lottery states allocate lottery proceeds to a general fund. From there, the lottery revenue is earmarked for specific projects like public education initiatives, environmental protections, or transportation infrastructure projects. States can have both their own lottery games and they can also participate in national lottery pools like Mega Millions and Powerball and multi-state contests like Monopoly Millionaire’s Club.
Related Resources for Utah State Lotteries Laws
As noted above, each state treats lotteries differently, and state lottery statutes (and the line between illegal lotteries and legal gaming and gambling) can be difficult to understand. If you would like legal assistance regarding a lottery law matter, you can consult with a Utah gaming law attorney in your area. You can also find additional articles and information on this topic by visiting FindLaw’s section on Gaming Law.
