Utah Online Casinos

Gambling in Utah is not allowed. Any kind of gambling activity is strictly prohibited in this state, and even social gambling with friends can be punishable by law. In fact, it’s safe to say that Utah is perhaps the strictest state in the entire Union when it comes to gambling.

One of the reasons why Utah has such a relation with gambling is that 60% of the state’s residents identify themselves as Mormon. One of the things that the Mormon Church strictly forbids is gambling in all forms.

The state also forbids all kinds of online gambling activities, so this limits Utahans to a very limited selection.

How can you play online casino games from Utah? Is there a way to do this at all? Will Utah ever legalize gambling? Read this article to find out more.

Top 5 Utah Online Casinos

Here is a list of our top 5 recommended online casino sites to play at for real money from Utah.

	CASINO	RATING	BONUS	PLAY
1	Bovada		100% up to $1,000 Sign Up Bonus	Play Now
2	Red Dog Casino		225% up to $12,250 Sign Up Bonus	Play Now
3	Vegas Casino Online		300% up to $3,000 Sign Up Bonus	Play Now
4	Slots.lv		200% up to $1,000 Sign Up Bonus	Play Now
5	Las Vegas USA		150% up to $3,000 Sign Up Bonus	Play Now

Is Online Gambling Legal in Utah?

Gambling, as a whole, is illegal in the state of Utah. As we explained in the introduction, that’s mainly because of the state’s current demographic, with the majority of residents of the Beehive State being Mormon.

When you compare Utah to many other states in the US, you’ll see that it has some very restrictive laws regarding gambling. Although many states in the US do not allow online gambling, they don’t prosecute those who decide to participate in such activities.

Things are a bit different in Utah. The state’s lawmakers criminalized online poker and gambling in 2012 when they created HB 108. One important excerpt from this legislative piece basically prohibits Utah from legalizing online gambling even if the federal government decides to legalize this type of activity nationwide.

It’s not difficult to conclude that Utahans really don’t like gambling and that this type of activity is not likely to be legalized soon.

Online gambling is illegal in many American states, but the law mainly applies to operating online casinos and other gambling platforms. However, you are still free to join one of the available offshore casinos and play casino games that way. People who take part in offshore gambling are usually not prosecuted by the local authorities.

Is this also applicable to Utah? Although you can access offshore casinos, you should first consult your lawyer whether to engage in such activity. There are no recorded cases of someone actually being prosecuted for joining an offshore gambling site, but it’s still illegal and may result in huge fines. The safest way to play casino games on the web is to go to another state where the laws about online gambling are looser.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Utah?

One type of gambling that’s completely legal in Utah is daily fantasy sports. The residents of this state are free to join some of the biggest DFS providers on the web and participate in this type of entertainment.

DFS is legal because the Utah law doesn’t recognize it as a game of chance. Utahans consider it a contest of skill, and that’s why they are allowed to play it.

Therefore, if you’re a fan of betting on fantasy sports, this is your opportunity to have fun without suffering any consequences.

Future of Online Gambling in Utah

If we were to name one state where we don’t see gambling being legalized anytime soon, that’s Utah. The state even opted out of nationwide online gambling legalization, should such an event take place. In other words, even if online gambling becomes legal in the entire country, Utah will still refuse to legalize it.

The lawmakers are not alone in this, as a majority of residents are anti-gambling too. As long as the support for the ban is there, it is highly unlikely that gambling will be legalized anytime soon.

If you’re pro-gambling and live in Utah, you’re definitely in the minority.

Land-Based Casino Options in Utah

Utah is one of the two US states that don’t have any casinos, the other one being Hawaii. The laws are so strict in this state that even riverboat casinos are not allowed. Therefore, the only option you have is to travel to one of the neighboring states that allow gambling.

The irony is that Utah shares its longest border with Nevada, a state where all forms of gambling are legal. Therefore, as a Utah resident, you’ll have to go on a road trip if you want to visit an online casino. Las Vegas is six hours away from Salt Lake City if you travel by car. If you live somewhere closer to Utah’s southern border, you’ll have to travel an even shorter distance. There are seven daily flights from SLC to Vegas, and each trip takes approximately 1h 20m.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, gambling in Utah is prohibited, and this also includes all forms of online gambling. The only legal activity that can be described as gambling is fantasy sports, but the law in Utah recognizes it as a contest of skill rather than luck.

Offshore casinos are available in Utah, but it’s illegal to open an account and take part in gambling activities. If you want to do it, we strongly advise you to contact your lawyer and consult with them first.

As for land-based gambling options, your best bet is to get in your car and drive to one of the states surrounding Utah. The good news is that Utah’s first neighbor is Nevada, which means Vegas is only a couple of hours away!

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