John Ford | November 22, 2020 | Updated on: April 26th, 2021
While casinos in Utah could bring in millions in revenue, the state has a stringent anti-gambling stance. That’s correct, there are no casinos in Utah. Over the years, the state has been consistent about their refusal to consider gambling in any form.
The good news is that you can still enjoy your favorite casino games within the Beehive State. We take you through the Utah gambling laws as well as the real money gambling options in and around UT.
No, there are no casinos in Utah. This state is one of only two that have not legalized any gambling form. There is no lottery, nor are charities allowed to host bingo games or raffles. There are also no Indian casinos in Utah as the Indian tribes are also prohibited from offering gambling.
Casinos in Utah State
While you won’t find any brick-and-mortar casinos as you would in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, there are a few establishments that offer casino games. The establishment will host casino parties, which are events where you get to play games such as blackjack or poker.
You can only play these games for fun with no real money bets being made. Think of it as playing on social gaming websites.
Another gambling option is bingo parlors. These bingo games are operated within the strict boundaries of the law. The prize pool is relatively small, and only a limited number of games are hosted.
Here are some of the bingo halls in Utah:
Bingo Hall
Location
Address
Annie’s Dinner and Bingo Club
Salt Lake City
4151 South Redwood Road 84106
Southgate Dinner & Bingo
Salt Lake City
3725 South 900 East 84106
Utah Cultural Center
Kearns
4095 West 5295 South 84118
Junction City Social Club
Ogden
3109 Wall Ave 84401
Eagles Family Meadows Bingo Hall
Huntsville
10909 State Rd 39 84404
Casinos in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the beautiful capital city of Utah. While it may not be home to any casinos, there are some nearby casinos you can visit. The closest casinos are located in West Wendover, Nevada. The city is 123 miles from downtown Salt Lake, which is about hours’ drive.
There are five casinos in Wendover, as well as a truck stop that has slot machines. Each casino offers slots, video poker, and some table games, including Pai Gow, craps, blackjack, and roulette.
Montego Bay Casino Resort
Peppermill Hotel & Casino
Rainbow Hotel & Casino
Red Garter
Wendover Nugget
Gambling Laws
The Utah Constitution states that the “Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise under any pretense or for any purpose.” As such, the state does not allow any kind of gambling.
Gambling crimes will be charged as a misdemeanor for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders may face felony charges. It is also a misdemeanor to play at unregulated gambling websites.
Utah’s history has a strong Mormon influence, and a part of that faith includes living vice-free. This means gambling is one of the things that are forbidden in the state. However, in the early 1900s, pari-mutuel wagering was legalized, but it was later banned again.
Bingo halls are acceptable on the basis that the establishment will charge you for food, and bingo will be completely free.
Online Gambling
Online gambling is explicitly banned. In fact, Utah is one of the states with written laws that clearly prohibit gambling on the internet. While web-based gambling is legalized at a federal level, it is unlawful to play casino game online.
Section 1102 of the Utah Criminal Code states that a person is guilty of gambling if they “participate in gambling or fringe gambling, including any Internet or online gambling.”
Basically, while we would recommend gambling at lawful casino sites online, we don’t recommend you do this within the Utah state borders.
Yes, it is legal for Utah residents to buy a lottery ticket from neighboring states. The catch with winning is that you will pay taxes on your winnings in the state that the ticket was bought as well as Utah.
The established culture in Utah prohibits residents from gambling. The Mormon culture suggests that all residents live vice free, which includes gambling.