Utah Online Casinos 2024 – Which One to Pick?
Curious about the legal status of Utah online casino sites? In this guide, we’ll break down the relatively complex landscape of casino gaming in the Beehive State. We’ll explain core concepts about the state’s gambling laws and provide legal alternatives for playing your favorite games.
It’s crucial that you get the right information before using any casino in Utah. The good news is that while the state’s gambling laws are strict, there are a few options for playing games. You’ll get to know them as you read on.
But first, let’s look at whether real money casinos are permitted to operate in Utah.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Find out the only legal websites for playing casino games in UT.
- Trace Utah’s gambling history from the time of Brigham Young to date.
- Learn the critical clause in House Bill 108 regarding the future of Utah online casino gaming.
Are Real Money Online Casinos Legal in Utah?
We’ll be straightforward here. Real money online casinos are not legal in Utah, and the state has some of the strictest gambling laws in the US. As a matter of fact, no form of gambling is permitted. The state also has policies in place to fully enforce its stance against gambling.
From our research, the law that specifically prohibits real money Utah online casino sites is contained in Title 76, Chapter 10 of the state’s Criminal Code. In section 1101, the code defines gambling and clarifies that it’s illegal.
Check out our guide on states with legal online casinos in the United States. You’ll learn about the situation in other states to know if there’s a nearby location to play your favorite games without legal worries.
Our Top 5 Sweepstakes Online Casinos in Utah
Sweepstakes casinos are legal in Utah, and they’re not classified as gambling sites. The reason is that the platforms are primarily for fun, and you play for free with virtual coins. Nevertheless, there’s still a wide range of games to enjoy.
We’ve researched the best US online sweepstakes casinos; you can click the link to check them out. If we focus exclusively on Utah, here are the best five sweepstakes online casinos in the state.
Chanced Casino in Utah
Chanced Casino ranks among other sweepstakes gaming sites in UT. With this platform, you get a library of 500+ games, including various top-rated slots. Interestingly, 10,000 GCs, 2 SCs, and 200 free spins are available in the welcome bonus. Simply sign up, and it’s yours.
The majority of Chanced Casino slots come from Hacksaw Gaming and Pragmatic Play. So, you can expect premium quality as you spin the reels. But besides slots, Chanced Casino also boasts some in-house originals and live dealer casino games.
→ Considering the strict gaming laws in Utah, live dealer games are a huge advantage since they give you a traditional experience. In this category, you can play Live Gravity Blackjack by BETER Live. The game has an impressive 3,000x max multiplier that can boost your coins.
Ding Ding Ding in Utah
Here’s a sweepstakes platform with one of the best Utah online casino bonus offers. If you sign up with Ding Ding Ding, you get 10,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins. The massive amount of GCs is the main advantage, and you can use it to play all games for free.
The number of games at Ding Ding Ding Casino is up to 800. That’s pretty huge, and the most exciting part is that there are many in-house titles. Whether you prefer classic slot machines or modern video options, Ding Ding Ding delivers. Usually, some games are locked, and you gain access to them after playing and reaching higher levels at the casino.
→ One of the best games to play at this casino is Switcherool. It’s an in-house classic game with a simple 3×3 layout. So, spinning the reels gives you the feel of being in an actual casino house.
Fortune Coins in Utah
It’s challenging to skip Fortune Coins when listing the best USA sweepstakes casinos. That’s because the site is available in many states, including Utah. To ensure you don’t need an initial purchase, the Fortune Coins welcome bonus will reward you with 630,000 GCs and 1,000 FCs.
As a Fortune Coins player, you get to choose from 550+ games from up to 10 different providers. Most are slots, but you’ll find some exciting fish titles. Plus, there are FC jackpots with multiple millions of coins to win.
→ Wondering what game to play at this Utah online casino? Emily’s Treasure, an in-house fish game, is highly recommended. Thanks to the unique gameplay where you shoot fishes underwater, you’ll love the game if you’re a fan of classic arcade machines.
Gambino Slots in Utah
Utah residents who sign up with Gambino can enjoy a top-notch sweepstakes slot experience. There’s everything to love about the platform, especially its impressive game collection. Guess what? You can claim 100,000 GCs and 200 free spins for free after registration.
Gambino Slots also provides daily gifts and bonuses for free coins. You can as well join the tiered VIP program to earn more rewards as you progress. Regarding games, Gambino features quite a wide variety, including classics, jackpots, and video slots with unique features.
→ A standout game to play at Gambino Casino is Cleopatra’s Reign. It’s an in-house title, so you won’t find it on other UT online casino platforms with sweepstakes slots. Also, as you play, you can leverage the Royal Spins and The Queen’s Bonus round.
LuckyBird.io in Utah
Fifth on this list of the best Utah online casino sites for sweepstakes gaming is LuckyBird. You don’t need to make an initial purchase, as new users receive a 7-day bonus of up to 5,000 GCs and 0.6 SCs. The coins will work for every game in the collection, including slots, table games, and exclusive in-house titles.
LuckyBird mainly stands out because it supports Provably Fair technology. It allows you to verify the results of each game round to ensure they’re truly random. Only a few sweepstakes casinos in the USA offer the same.
→ You can play Ronaldinho Spins by Booming Games when you sign up with LuckyBird. The game is new, but it’s already a big favorite for players since it was designed after the soccer legend Ronaldinho Gaucho.
Can You Bet Real Money With Land-Based Casinos in Utah?
There is no land-based casino in the Beehive State. If you want to play games, your only options are the sweepstakes Utah online casino sites we listed in the previous section.
How to Declare Taxable Winnings in Utah?
Since there’s no land-based or real money online casino Utah residents can play at, the state’s Department of Revenue doesn’t have a provision for such tax declaration.
You only have to report your winnings on your federal tax return with the IRS. That involves using Form 1040, precisely Schedule 1. Note that if you get Form W-2G from the gambling operator, it’s also essential to include the information.
Fact: You need to report your federal adjusted gross income (AGI) on your Utah state tax return with Form TC-40. So, your gambling winnings, as reported in your federal return, will reflect in your state income.
Other Legal Gambling Activities in Utah
If you want to gamble in Utah, you know casinos are out of the question — unless you’re playing for fun at sweepstakes sites. How about other legal gambling activities? Well, it’s still not good news. There is no other legal gambling activity in Utah.
The region doesn’t have a lottery, and it’s illegal to play lotteries in other states from UT. You only get limited forms of charitable gaming like Bingo and raffles.
Fact: Utah is one of the six states in the US without a state-run lottery.
History of Gambling in Utah
How did Utah become a state with such an unfavorable atmosphere for gambling in the US? Well, it may surprise you that things have been that way since the 19th century. Based on our research, gambling has been outlawed in UT even before it became a state.
Here’s the complete rundown of the state’s history on the subject:
- 1847: Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young settle in Utah. The community establishes a solid cultural and religious stance against gambling, influenced by the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
- 1875: The first anti-gambling law is enacted in the Utah Territory, reflecting the moral and religious values of the settlers.
- 1896: Utah becomes a state and includes a prohibition on gambling in its constitution.
- 1920s-1930s: During the Prohibition era, illegal gambling operations like speakeasies and underground casinos were actively suppressed by law enforcement.
- 1950: The Utah legislature passed stricter anti-gambling laws targeting horse racing and slot machines.
- 1980s: Despite the nationwide trend towards the legalization of lotteries and casinos, Utah maintains its strict anti-gambling stance, with no moves towards legalization.
- 1992: Utah opts out of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which allows Native American tribes to operate casinos on their reservations.
- 2000: The Utah state legislature passes laws to specifically ban internet gambling.
- 2012: Utah passes House Bill 108, clarifying that online gambling is illegal, even in the face of potential federal legalization efforts.
What’s Next for Utah Online Casinos?
Utah remains tied to its cultural and religious roots, so there’s little to no chance of online casinos becoming legal in the state. From our findings, lawmakers are not contemplating approving any form of gambling — not lottery, sports betting, or Indian gaming — much less online casinos.
House Bill 108, passed in 2012, is still relatively recent, and it shows the extent to which the state is willing to go to prevent gambling. At the time, Republican Senator John Valentine mentioned that it preserves Utah’s tradition of being a state that doesn’t allow gambling. He was one of the co-sponsors.
Notably, House Bill 108 ensures that any future attempts to legalize gambling would require a statewide vote.
In other words, before real money Utah online casino sites can be permitted in the region, all Utahns will have to visit the polls. Lawmakers can’t take the move themselves, and that complicates things even further.
So, Will You Bet From Utah Tonight?
As a casino gambler in UT, your options are pretty straightforward. You cannot bet real money on games, so long as you’re within the four walls of the state.
The only alternative is to play at Utah sweepstakes online casino sites. We’ve highlighted the best platforms, so simply pick one that meets your preferences.
Perhaps you’re particular about betting real money. If yes, you can travel to neighboring states where gambling is permitted, like Nevada, for instance. Check out our guide on Nevada’s current legal landscape of online casinos.