Is There Gambling In Salt Lake City

1. Is There Casinos In Salt Lake City
2. Is There Gambling In Salt Lake City Utah

Is Gambling Online Legal in the State of Utah?

Officially, Utah has no legal forms of gambling – though that does not stop the population of this State employing a lot of creative solutions to enjoy poker, bingo and even casino games. While the majority Mormon population sees gambling as a transgression of their church’s values – there are still many residents who enjoy a flutter. This page takes you through the details of the Utah gambling laws.

First of all below you will find a quick-fire overview of the history of gambling in Utah, including some of the creative solutions to the general ban. After that a game-by-game run-down of what games can be played in this State. Next the detailed part of this page looks as excerpts from the statute books and a legal timeline. Finally, you will find a summary and look at the future at the end of this page.

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Utah Gambling Laws – A Brief History

With the exception of a 2 year trial of pari-mutuel betting in the 1920’s – gambling has been illegal in Utah from the creation of the state. What many people do not realize is that there are opportunities to gamble for Utah residents, and that casual betting (for example office pools on major sporting events or a few dollars on a round of golf) is actually very common there.

Casino games are a definite ‘no’ in Utah territory, though there are plenty of people willing to drive west on interstate 80 to the border town of Wendover, Nevada. This was once a truck-stop, and has now become home to 5 casinos, hosting up to 700,000 gamblers from Utah every year. Organized excursions to the tables there are common for those not wishing to make the 2 hour drive from Salt Lake City themselves.

Poker is possible via bar leagues which do not charge for entry into their tournaments. They give out cash prizes, and even have bigger monthly events with larger sums up for grabs. Since there is no entry fee, the authorities tolerate these popular games. You can enjoy home-games too, which are tolerated as long as the players have a real social relationship and nobody is profiting from the games.

Bingo enjoys some creative solutions, with restaurants offering free cards with their meals which give away cash prizes. The meals are rather expensive, though in theory at least, people not buying food can still get the bingo tickets – making the games possible.

There are rumors of many trips to Las Vegas from Utah each year, and substantial sums being spent on lottery tickets from Idaho too.

An interesting development came in 2012, when the existing anti-gambling laws were strengthened. An act was passed explicitly making gambling on the internet illegal. At the same time wording in this bill ensured that this would remain illegal in the event of any federal regulation.

What Forms Of Gambling Are Legal?

The short answer would be ‘none’ however, this masks some creative ways in which residents get around the laws!

Casino Games: No, the closest casino gambling is in the Nevada town of Wendover, which is on the border between the two States and exists for Utah residents making the 2 hour trip from the Salt-lake city area.

Online Casinos: No, these are now specifically outlawed.

Live Poker: No, there are no poker games as other States enjoy them. However there are bar leagues with no buy-in requirements which offer cash and goods as prizes, and home games are tolerated as long as nobody of profiting by raking the pots.

Online Poker: No, again this is specifically illegal.

Sports Betting: No, there is no sports-betting at all in this State.

Lottery Betting: No, there is no lottery in Utah.

Bingo Games: No, again there are creative ways around this (diners where you pay for a meal and get free bingo cards), though strictly speaking, it is not legal.

Utah Gambling Laws – Statutes And Legal Timeline

Despite the conservative outward reputation of Utah residents, their laws are not worded in the strongest possible ways. In fact their definition of gambling is 3-pronged, leading many to argue that if one prong is missing then the form of gambling is legal. This is what enables the free poker leagues and bingo-buffets to thrive. The wording can be found below, along with the key passage from the more recent HB108, which bans internet gambling and creates the opt-out of future federal legal gaming.

” “Gambling” means risking anything of value for a return or risking anything of value upon the outcome of a contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device when the return or outcome:

(i) is based upon an element of chance; and (ii) is in accord with an agreement or understanding that someone will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. ” (From 76-1-1101)

Here is the key wording from HB108:

[su_quote]“Whether or not any federal law is enacted that authorizes Internet gambling in the states, this section acts as this state’s prohibition of any gambling, including Internet gambling, in this state.”[/su_quote]

The focus of this bill is not necessarily the players of internet poker or casino games – though explicitly they are criminalized under it – but rather the operators of the games.

1851: The first anti-gambling law was passed (under the precursor to Utah, the State of Deseret). This ‘Ordinance To Suppress Gaming’ was used in the first Utah constitution in the same year.

1875: All forms of gambling in this State are declared illegal, this law remained intact for a full 98 years, until the entire code was rewritten in 1973.

1925 to 1927: Pari-mutuel betting comes and then goes, this is the only legal gambling in the history of this state, and lasted only 2 years.

2012: Online gambling banned from within Utah, and wording created to ensure that Utah is not included in any future Federal legalization of online gambling.

Utah Gambling Laws – Summary And Look To The Future

While things are not as dry for gamblers as they might first appear – this is certainly not a gambling friendly State by any stretch of the imagination. With the 2012 bill pre-empting any Federal legislation covering online gambling with an opt-out, we can consider Utah to be at the very bottom of the list of States who might one day regulate online poker.

Useful Resources:

History Of Gambling In Utah

• http://www.math.byu.edu/~jarvis/gambling/utah-gambling.html

Article On Wendover

Links To Statutes

Article Covering The 2012 Law

• http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/31/idUS224399+31-Jan-2012+MW20120131

Utah is a Western state, known for its skiing and mountainous terrain, and is also home to 2 major professional sports franchises. The NBA’s Utah Jazz and the MLS’ Real Salt Lake both play out of Salt Lake City. If you’re looking for another way of getting engaged with your favorite teams, or any other teams outside of the state, you can place bets online. Utah sports fans can bet on their local teams through one of the sportsbooks that we’ve recommended in this guide. There are several laws that govern sports betting and this guide informs you on those and how you can safely and legally place bets at licensed and regulated online sportsbooks that accept Utah residents.

Is It Legal To Bet On Sports in Utah?

Utah state law mentions gambling, but does not define gambling as including sports betting. Regardless, there are no sportsbooks in the state, and it is not legal to own or operate an online of offline sports betting business within Utah state lines. There are not any federal or state laws that make it illegal for Utah sports fans to enjoy online sports betting action at legally sanctioned offshore sportsbooks that are operating legitimately inside the industry. We go into more detail about specific US gambling laws below, including how they impact your options for legal sportsbook gambling.

Most Reputable Sportsbooks for Utah Residents

Our team of industry professionals have put together this list of sportsbooks after carefully investigating them on multiple levels. These destinations all have strong security protocols, Nevada-style betting lines and features like live betting, mobile apps, bonuses and more. Most importantly, these sportsbooks accept Utah residents. There are a lot of sportsbooks out there, however it’s important that you make sure you’re betting with legally licensed sportsbooks that are reputable. These sportsbooks fit that bill.

How US Gambling Laws Regulate Sports Betting in Utah

PASPA, or the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, was enacted to stop the growth of legalized sports betting nationwide. The law was enacted in 1992 and affects 46 states. This prohibits states from hosting any type of state-sponsored sports betting including any brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in general.

The Federal Wire Act deals with placing bets online. The law does not restrict people from placing bets with the offshore sportsbooks we’ve recommended, but only illegal US-based sportsbooks. In 2011, the DOJ clarified that the Federal Wire Act only applies to US-based sports betting and does not impact any other gambling entertainment venue such as casino gaming or poker.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) patrols banks and transactions stemming from online gambling. The UIGEA affects banks, not individual bettors, and was intended to monitor any transactions for fraudulent activity through strict regulations. Utah state law doesn’t specifically mention sports betting, but it would be illegal anyways under PASPA. These laws only affect US-based sports betting, not betting with the legal offshore sportsbooks we’ve suggested.

Teams To Bet On In Utah

Utah only has two major sports franchises—the Jazz and Real Salt Lake. Local support is strong for both teams. Both teams play in the Western Conference of their respective leagues. MLS is still in preseason and the Jazz currently sit in 4^th place, so they are in playoff contention.

NBA Teams In Utah

MLS Teams In Utah

FAQs Relevant To Betting On Sports

Can I Bet On Teams Outside My State At Online Sportsbooks?

Yes. If you’re a state like Utah and only have a couple of franchises, you’re likely to want to extend your betting options. These sportsbooks don’t restrict your betting to your region. Utah residents are free to bet on any team in any league that they choose from around the world.

How Do I Create An Online Sportsbook Account?

Is There Casinos In Salt Lake City

Once you’ve found the sportsbooks you like, all you need to do to create an account is enter some personal information like your name, address, e-mail, etc. You won’t be asked any financial information until you’re ready to make your first deposit. You’re able to look at the available betting lines before signing up for an account.

Are There Any Signup Fees For Utah Gamblers?

No. These sportsbooks don’t charge you to sign up for their services. There are also no monthly/annual dues. The only money being spent is the money you wager.

How Do I Make A Deposit At Online Sportsbooks For Utah Residents?

When you’re ready to make a deposit, all you have to do is hit the ‘deposit’ button in your account page on the site. You’ll be prompted to select your preferred deposit method from among the available options. Some of the more common funding methods include credit/debit card, Bitcoin and wire transfers through services such as Western Union or MoneyGram.

What Are Sportsbook Bonuses?

Bonuses are promotions given to bettors as they use the site. They’re usually in the form of ‘free money’ and are a percentage of your deposit. Your first bonus is usually given upon completion of your first successful deposit. There are other seasonal and promotional bonuses given throughout the year. Bonuses are automatically added to your bankroll on the site.

Do I Have To Pay Taxes On My Winnings?

Is There Gambling In Salt Lake City Utah

Gambling winnings are considered taxable income, so yes you should be paying taxes on your winnings. If you fail to do so it could result in trouble with the IRS. Consult a Utah tax specialist if you have specific questions. Keep in mind that most states have a relevant minimum threshold that must be met before being required to report gambling winnings, so you have to win a decent amount in order to be required to report it.

How Are Online Sportsbooks For Utah Residents Different Than The Ones In Nevada?

While Nevada sportsbooks have similar betting lines, they don’t offer the same extras or the same range of wagering options. Our featured sportsbooks offer bonuses, mobile apps and live betting. The mobile apps allow you to bet on-the-go while the bonuses give you extra money to bet with.