Is Online Poker Legal In Utah

Posted on by admin
Is Online Poker Legal In Utah Rating: 4,9/5 8542 reviews

Federal law specifically exempts fantasy sports contests from the prohibitions of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or UIGEA. At the state level, legislation and regulation vary state-to-state. In recent years, many state legislatures have passed laws confirming and clarifying the legality of Daily Fantasy Sports contests. 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. Online Poker in Utah The same is true for online poker as online gambling in general. There are plenty of offshore poker sites willing to accept Utah online poker players. Top Recommended Play Money Online Poker Sites. Poker is clearly considered a form of gambling, and any form of internet gambling is heavily punishable by law. Is Utah working to legalize Online Poker? Utah is the last of all 50 states that anyone would expect to legalize online poker, with or without the help of federal regulation.

Is it legal to play poker online in utah

No forms of gambling are legal in Utah. There is not even a lottery there. Most Utah poker players are close to gambling in other states. Nevada borders Utah to the west, while Colorado and Arizona also have poker. Wyoming’s poker room in Riverton is also an option for players in the northern section of the state. This Riverton casino offers just one cash game table, although there are nine tables available for tournaments.

Is Online Poker Legal in Utah?

Utah updated its criminal code in 2012 to specifically ban online gambling. It went a step further by preventing the governor from entering into a gaming compact with other states. If a federal online poker bill is ever passed by Congress then Utah has automatically opted out.

This makes future online poker nearly impossible, especially since the bill passed the Utah House by a 62-10 vote and passed the Senate unanimously. Several online poker rooms left the Utah market when this bill was passed. These include Bovada, Revolution Gaming and the Merge Gaming Network.

Where Can You Play Online Poker in Utah?

AmericasCardroom.EU

The only online poker network that we recommend for Utah players is Winning Poker. Americas Cardroom is one of the best known skins on WPN. It is owned by one of the most financially strong online gaming companies in the world. New players will receive a 100% up to $1,000 first deposit bonus.

In addition to free cash, players will be entered into Americas Cardroom’s Elite Benefits VIP program. Elite Benefits gives players points for simply being dealt into the hand. These points may be used to enter tournaments, purchase prizes or simply be exchanged into cash.

TheBeast is another promotion offered by Americas Cardroom. Players earn points based on the limit played. The top 500 or so point earners divide a player pool that exceeds $100,000 each month. TheBeast tables are available in No Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha formats. There is also a Bad Beat Jackpot where a player that loses quad 8’s or better when both players use both hole cards will win. Bad Beat Jackpots are progressive and run as high as $500,000.

Live Poker Scene in Utah

Poker

You cannot legally play live poker anywhere in Utah. Even social and charity poker games are illegal. Luckily for poker enthusiasts in Utah, Nevada is nearby. West Wendover is a short drive from Salt Lake City. Players in southern Utah can drive to Mesquite or an hour further to Las Vegas. Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming all offer poker rooms that are within a few hour’s drive of Utah’s border.

Home» US Poker Laws » State Laws » Utah Poker Laws

Relevant State Code: 76-10-1101 et seq.; 4-38-1 et seq.

Gamblers headed in the direction of Utah will want to choose a different route. Utah takes what can be considered the strictest approach of any state to gambling of all types, and boasts possibly the broadest definition of gambling found anywhere in the US:

Section 76-10-1101(2)(a)
'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.

Since there are not any regulated forms of gambling in the state, things are very simple when it comes to Utah law on gambling: None of it is allowed anywhere.

Penalties are especially harsh for players and operators in Utah. Players are initially looking at a class C misdemeanor (click here for jail time and fines) for gambling, but will face a class A misdemeanor for the second offense. Gambling fraud (cheating) is considered a theft offense. Those who profit from illegal gambling are looking at a range of misdemeanor and felony charges.

Despite the hyper-strict gambling laws on Utah's books, the state reported only 3 gambling - related arrests in 2010. This number seems at odds with recent news reports regarding gambling busts in Utah (see here and here); either enforcement of anti-gambling laws has recently become more of a priority for Utah law enforcement or the statistics provided by the state are incomplete.

Legal Gambling Options in Utah

LegalOnline

Utah is one of two states - the other being Hawaii - that has no regulated forms of gambling.

When we say no, we mean none. There is no exception for social gambling, no exception for charitable gambling, no commercial gambling, no state-sponsored gambling - nothing.

Utah Law Regarding Real Money Poker

As poker is pretty clearly based on (at least) 'an element of chance,' wagering on poker is almost certainly illegal in Utah. Since the state has no commercial or tribal gambling and permits no charitable or social poker games, it does not seem possible to play poker for real money legally in Utah.

Playing online poker for money is explicitly illegal in Utah as of July 1st, 2012 (more on that in the following section).

Legal Poker Sites in Utah

Online

Utah is the only state we're aware of that has passed a law that specifically forbids the state from participating in any federal online poker regulatory scheme. That law, passed in early 2012 under the title Internet Gambling, also amends the charge of 'gambling' in Utah law to include 'any Internet or online gambling' and creates a new charge (Section 76-10-1102(3)) for providing online gambling to anyone in the state.

The law went into effect on July 1st, 2012. You can view the complete history and full text of the law here.

Will Utah Take Part in Regulating and Legalizing Online Poker?

Utah is absolutely the least likely state in the US to regulate online poker sites. Expect the state to be a vocal opponent of any related action at the federal level, and to continue their prohibition on all forms of gambling for the foreseeable future.