Online Casinos in Utah

The 13th largest and the 30-the-most-populous US state, Utah has two of three main prerequisites for developing a robust gaming ecosystem – a high demand for gambling and a high level of household income. The Beehive State could have extracted solid revenues from gambling if it hadn’t been for the hostile attitude towards games of a chance coming from the local authorities.

Unfortunately, neither Salt Lake City, the capital and the largest state city of Utah nor any other territory within the state allows gambling. The prohibition on games – both online and in brick-and-mortar casinos – even covers fringe gambling, which could have quenched the gambling thirst of the local punters.

Laws Affecting Online Gambling in Utah

When you hear the words ‘gambling’ and ‘Utah’ in one sentence, you wonder if yet another batch of prohibitive laws has come about. The most recent one is a new bill on fringe gambling introduced by Karen Mayne, Senate minority leader, in February 2020. The document is aiming to tighten the legislative loopholes through defining vending machines, amusement devices, video game devices, and even the intention of having a gambling machine.

However, whether the bill comes into force or not, it will make no difference to Utah gamblers. With or without it, there’s no possibility to gamble from Utah legally. Addressing the popular question, ‘is online gambling legal in Utah,’ we can safely say that all forms of gambling, from poker machines to online slots, are strictly forbidden by the Utah Criminal Code. And since everything is banned, there are no Utah online gambling laws regulating the industry.

But there’s also good news for those willing to play from Utah. In fact, prosecuting online gamblers is a matter of paper rather than action: no one has ever been penalized for playing online. Safety issues are out of the question if you play at a reputable offshore casino and use a credible VPN network along with anonymous banking methods.

Sports Betting in Utah

To the delight of millions of sport betting lovers across the country, the Supreme Court of the United States lifted the federal ban on sports wagering on May 14, 2018, to endow the states with the right to regulate sports betting independently within their borders. Since then, 11 states have legalized sports betting. Unfortunately, Utah isn’t one of them.

Not too much can be said about sports betting in Utah. There are no brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state, and the only chance to indulge in betting is to try and circumvent the state legislature in favor of international bookies.

But is it worth the risk? It’s up to you to evaluate that. There are two contrasting opinions about online sports betting in Utah. First is that messing with the state laws is dangerous; second is that it’s quite safe since thousands of bettors have been using offshore sportsbooks for decades and without issues (there were only so many cases of prosecution for gambling in Utah, and none related to online sports betting).

Interesting Facts about Online Gambling in Utah

The draconic rules on gambling and the hostile attitude to games of chance in Utah might seem strange in the light of mitigation happening in other states, but only until you know about the Mormon background of the region. The traditional values of Mormons – abstinence from gambling and alcohol among them – have shaped Utah as a state with a fierce anti-gambling policy.

There were only a few periods in the history of Utah when certain forms of gambling were allowed – for example, pari-mutuel wagering was legal between 1925 and 1927. As of now, the only forms of entertainment that are more or less tolerated are bingo and poker. There are a few bingo halls and two poker rooms in Utah, but they aren’t legal in the full sense: you have to buy food or goods to be allowed to play, which is called fringe gambling, the one forbidden by the Utah Criminal Code.

As for Utah online gambling, offshore casinos are safe as long as you deal with worthy venues and use anonymous depositing and withdrawal methods.

Getting Help for Problem Gambling in Utah

Utah does not offer any legal forms of gambling, so it’s no wonder there are neither funds allocated to deal with problem gambling nor the organizations to address the needs of problem gamblers. However, that doesn’t mean there are no problem gamblers in Utah. Those in need of treatment can get it at a number of nationwide organizations:

• National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, chat: ncpgambling.org/chat.
• Gamblers Anonymous, an experience-sharing fellowship fighting gambling addiction and gambling-related problems.
• Gam-Anon, a self-help organization for compulsive gamblers.
• GamTalk, an online support forum.

The best help is, though, your consciousness in the USA gambling market and awareness of the possible unfavorable consequences of excessive gambling.

Even though online gambling in Utah is heavily restricted – remember, not only online gambling is forbidden, but the law violators are promised to be prosecuted (which, in fact, is not true: not a single online player has been penalized so far) – it still remains the only viable way to get to your favorite slots and card games from the territory of the state.

The risks do exist, but you can reduce them even further by choosing a reputable casino known for its hospitality to players from Utah. Supernova, 7Bit, Lucky Red are just as great for punters from Utah as the other casinos represented at the top of this webpage.

• Supernova. It’s high time to embark on a thrilling voyage to the very distant galaxies where the draconic rules of Utah are no longer in play! The all-embracing Supernova online casino offers hundreds of slots and table games to every taste, as well as luscious bonuses to all new passengers. Register at the casino now, and you will get a 300% slot to match bonus to fuel your engines (bonus code: BIG EVENT).
• 7Bit. 500 slots machines by renowned software developers (Endorphina, NetEnt, SoftSwiss, Betsoft, etc.), comfortable and fast deposits and withdrawals, bitcoin compatibility, and generous welcome rewards are the perks at 7Bit, a crypto-compatible casino with thousands of players from Utah. Sports betting is supported as well – feel free to place wagers on your favorite teams and athletes.
• Lucky Red. Whether red, blue, or any other color is your lucky one, you are welcome to challenge your gambling fate at Lucky Red, a ridiculously generous casino offering a 400% match bonus up to $4,000 plus 75 free spins, as well as a bunch of other perks. Gaming-wise, you’ll find here everything you need and then some, from classic 3-reel machines to advanced video slots and special games. Note that the casino accepts bitcoin, probably the safest way to deposit from Utah.