Is sports betting legal in Utah?

No. Utah Constitution Article VI §27 prohibits all forms of gambling, and Utah Code §76-10-1101 criminalizes gambling. There is no exception for sports betting and no active ballot initiative to change this.

Are daily fantasy sports legal in Utah?

Major DFS operators (DraftKings, FanDuel) do not accept Utah residents. The state AG has not issued a specific opinion on DFS, but the constitutional prohibition on 'games of chance' is broad enough to cover paid entry contests.

Utah Sports Betting Laws 2026 — Total Prohibition

Q: What does Utah Constitution Article VI §27 say?

'The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gaming device, or any fraternal or voluntary association, corporation, or organization to operate any game of chance, lottery or gaming device.' The provision was adopted in the 1896 state constitution and has not been amended.

What the constitution says

Utah is the only U.S. state where the prohibition on gambling is written into the state constitution. The provision cannot be overturned by a simple legislative act or a regulatory change. It requires a constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the legislature and ratification by the voters.

Utah Constitution Article VI, §27 · Adopted 1896; never amended

The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gaming device, or any fraternal or voluntary association, corporation, or organization to operate any game of chance, lottery or gaming device.

What the statute says

The constitutional prohibition is implemented through Utah Code §76-10-1101, which makes gambling a class B misdemeanor (for a first offense) and a class A misdemeanor (for subsequent offenses).

Utah Code §76-10-1101 (excerpt) · 1973; current version 2024

A person is guilty of gambling if he or she participates in gambling, including but not limited to: (a) a game of chance; (b) a lottery; (c) sporting events; or (d) anything similar to (a), (b), or (c).

The statute explicitly names "sporting events" — so even before the constitutional question, Utah has had a statutory prohibition on sports betting for fifty years.

What does not change this

Federal legalization under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992) was struck down by the Supreme Court in Murphy v. NCAA (2018). That ruling did not affect Utah — the state does not need federal permission to maintain its own prohibition.

Tribal gaming compacts, which authorize Class III gaming in many other states, do not apply in Utah. The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah operates under a state-tribal compact that does not include sports betting. Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) does not preempt the Utah Constitution.

Daily fantasy sports

Major DFS operators — DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks — do not accept Utah residents. Account registration requires a state of residence, and Utah is excluded. The Utah Attorney General's office has not issued a formal opinion on DFS, but the broad scope of "game of chance" in both the constitution and the statute covers paid-entry contests.

What is legal in Utah

Social gambling: Utah Code §76-10-1109 exempts "bona fide social games" where no one profits beyond personal winnings, no house takes a cut, and entry is free or nominal. This does not extend to organized sports pools.
State lottery: Utah is one of five states without a state lottery.
Horse racing: No parimutuel wagering. Live racing does not occur in Utah.