Is Sports Betting Legal in Utah?

Is sports betting legal in Utah?

No, and it is not likely to become legal soon. Utah's state constitution prohibits all forms of gambling, including lotteries, casinos and sports wagering. Utah is one of the very few states with no state lottery and no casino of any kind, and lawmakers have shown little appetite for changing that.

Because the ban is written into the constitution, legalising sports betting would require an amendment approved by a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the legislature and then by voters at a general election. No such proposal has advanced, so there is no legal way to place a sports bet from inside Utah.

Why Utah's position is so firm

Utah's opposition to gambling is long-standing and widely supported, which is why proposals for a lottery or casinos have repeatedly gone nowhere at the Capitol. The arrival of professional ice hockey and the growth of the Jazz have not changed that. For now, Utah sports fans who want to bet legally are effectively making a choice to travel. Many already do so for Las Vegas weekends or trips to Wendover, and the same rules apply there as for any visitor: you must be 21 to bet in Nevada.

No sportsbooks, retail or online

There are no licensed sportsbooks in Utah, and none of the brands we rank is available here. Sportsbook apps use geolocation to block anyone located in the state, so downloading an app in Salt Lake City will not let you place a bet.

The state has also taken a firm line on newer products that resemble sports betting. Bettors should be cautious of any website or app that claims to offer legal wagering in Utah, because no such licence exists.

Legal betting in neighbouring states

Utah is surrounded by states with legal markets. Nevada's casinos in Wendover and Mesquite sit just over the border, and Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona all allow mobile sports betting. If you travel to any of them, a licensed app will work while you are physically inside that state, and it will stop accepting bets as soon as you return to Utah.

Offshore sites are not a legal alternative. They operate without a US licence, and if a dispute arises you have nowhere to turn.

Jazz, Mammoth and college rivalries

The Utah Jazz, the NHL's Utah Mammoth and Real Salt Lake, along with the BYU-Utah rivalry, make up the state's sporting landscape. For Utahns who bet while travelling, setting a firm budget is the best protection, and 1-800-GAMBLER offers free, confidential support wherever you are.