Utah Betting Sites: Legal Situation and Future Plans
There are plenty of things to do in Utah, but sports betting isn’t one of them. There is no gambling of any type in allowed in Utah, largely because of the state’s strong ties with the Mormon faith.
On this site we only recommend trustworthy and licensed sites for each state and there are no legal Utah betting sites. If Utahns want to gamble, the only way to do so is to drive to a nearby state. Nevada and Colorado are two neighboring states with legal sports betting.
What are the Best Betting Sites Utah Residents Can Use?
There is no form of legalized gambling in Utah and that doesn’t look like it will change any time soon. In Utah, online sports betting is not permitted. If you are a gambler, Utah is probably the worst state in the US that you can live in. There isn’t even a state lottery.
Section 76-10-1102 of the Criminal Code in Utah outlaws gambling of any kind. Online sports betting is deemed illegal along with all other types of gambling in the Beehive State. As a result, there aren’t any best betting sites Utah gamblers can bet at.
Is Daily Fantasy Legal in Utah?
Daily fantasy sports offer a chink of light for Utah gamblers. DFS in Utah operates in a legal grey area and all the main DFS operators allow Utah residents to enter real money contests. DraftKings and FanDuel accept players on their Utah sports betting app.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites for State Players?
The only option for Utah sports bettors is using offshore betting sites such as MyBookie, BetOnline, or Bovada. Offshore bookmakers aren’t regulated by any authority and are risky places to gamble, so we don’t recommend them.
It may be tempting for Utahns to use offshore sites to place a bet – but be careful. If you bet at unlicensed bookies, then your funds are not safe and there are no guarantees that your winning bets will be honored.
Land-based Casinos in Utah
There aren’t any Utah casinos. You will have to cross the border to a neighboring state if you want to visit one. The nearest casinos to Salt Lake City are over the Nevada border in Wendover.
The closest a Utahn can get to gambling within state lines is a game of bingo. If an establishment wants to offer bingo, then it must get creative with its prizes to stay within the law. Bingo presents one of the only gambling options available to Utah residents.
Finding the Closest State with Legal Sports Betting
If Utahns want to bet on sports, then they will need to drive to Colorado or Nevada. Utah online sports betting is not available but betting sites in CO and NV accept customers from Utah. Nevada is a state synonymous with gambling and the online sports betting is thriving.
Colorado was one of the first states to legalize sports betting. Gamblers from Utah can set up an account and place a wager when visiting the Centennial State. Here is a list of the closest states with legal sports betting:
What Would Legal Utah Online Sports Betting Look Like?
It is difficult to picture what legal sports betting sites in Utah would look like. No gambling regulation and licensing infrastructure currently exists and Utah doesn’t even have a lottery.
Any Utah sportsbook would have to be overseen by someone, so a new organization would have to be formed. With Mormonism currently having such a strong influence over the state, it is hard to see how such an official body would be possible.
The most likely way towards any form of gambling in Utah could be some kind of legal grey area (as DFS currently operates in) or something involving Utah’s Native American tribes. Utahan gamblers would love to be able to bet on Utah Jazz games, but that possibility is remote right now.
What are the Utah Gambling Laws
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Land-based Casino | Not Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Not Legal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Legal Grey Area |
| Racetrack Betting | Not Legal |
| Utah Gambling Age | All Gambling is Illegal |
The state of Utah has a strong anti-gambling stance which is linked to its history. Around 65% of Utahans identify as Mormon and any progressive gambling legislation is always voted down by state lawmakers.
There aren’t any commercial or tribal casinos in the Beehive State. Utah is also one of the few states to not have a lottery. Even charity gaming is not allowed in the state of Utah.
It could be a while before any legal Utah online sports betting is possible. Attitudes in Utah would have to change significantly before sports betting becomes legal there. In the meantime, Utah residents can only bet on sports when they are out of state.
Playing daily fantasy sports in Utah is not technically legal, but no specific law exists. With that in mind, Daily fantasy sports operators currently accept players from Utah.
It is quite likely that in the near future, a law will be passed in the Beehive State banning DFS. But for now, Utahns can enjoy entering DFS contests and playing on FanDuel and DraftKings in Utah. Currently the best betting sites Utah gamblers can use are DFS sites.
History of Sports Betting and Gambling in Utah
The history of legal gambling in Utah is a short one. In fact, it lasted for two years – when betting on horse racing was legal from 1925 to 1927. That historical anomaly aside, there has never been any other form of legal gambling in Utah.
Utah’s constitution specifically outlaws gambling. Several anti-gambling laws and amendments have been passed throughout the history of the state to strengthen this position.
In 2012 two amendments specifically against online gambling were added to section 76-10-1102 of the Utah Criminal Code. The updates to the law ensure there are no gambling websites in Utah and none on the horizon.
With the repeal of PASPA in 2018, online gambling has already taken off in a big way in many states around the US. Utah remains staunchly anti-gambling and no legislation has been introduced to change this.
What is the Future of Sports Betting in Utah?
If they are hoping for legal sports betting sites, utah residents might be in for a long wait. The state’s strong Mormon faith makes it highly unlikely that any progressive gambling legislation will be passed in the short or medium term.
Gamblers from Utah have extremely limited options. Their only choices are to play daily fantasy sports or travel to Colorado and Nevada. Until a bill is passed, only players from legal sports betting states will be able to place sports bets
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that that you found our UT online sports betting guide as informative as possible. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from our readers about betting online in Utah. This covers some common topics that our readers ask about Utah betting sites.
⚖️ Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Utah?
No. All forms of online gambling are illegal in Utah. The only exception is DFS, which operates in a grey area and currently has no law specifically declaring it either legal or illegal. Read more about the situation in our summary of online gambling in Utah.
🛡️ What is the Utah legal gambling age?
As all types of gambling are illegal in Utah, there is no legal gambling age set. If any form of legal gambling was introduced in Utah, then we expect the legal gambling age would be 21 years old. Read more about Utah gambling laws in our dedicated section.
🚨 Are sites like MyBookie and Bovada safe and legal?
MyBookie and Bovada are illegal offshore gambling sites. While they do accept gamblers from Utah, your money isn't safe at these unregulated sites and we don't recommend them. We look at the landscape of the Utah legal gambling market in our legal section.
🔎 Can I play at a Utah online sportsbook if I am not in the state?
There aren't any Utah betting sites, so if you want to gamble online, you'll have to visit a neighboring state. Sports betting online in Colorado or Nevada is completely legal for Utah residents when they are visiting those states.