Best Utah Online Casinos 2024: Play Legally and Safely!

Veronica Foster Publication byV. Foster

It’s rare when a state outright refuses to amend its laws, even if for the good or wishes of its citizens. Unfortunately, this is the case with Utah, where casinos are staunchly opposed. You won’t be able to find any options for Utah online casino betting. Utah online casinos will be limited to social and sweepstakes casinos. In addition, Utah online casinos will also include sweepstakes poker sites.

While online gambling is currently legal in other states, the state has remained steadfast in its refusal to allow Utah residents to gamble online or in-person. That’s right, you won’t find any casino games in person either! This even includes a state lottery, slot machines, and any casino-style games.

For those who want to win cash prizes, your best bet will be to look elsewhere online or in another state. Here’s a rundown of why this state’s online gambling journey has been nothing short of non-existent.

The Best Online Casino Offers in Utah

United States
Utah, United States
  • BetRivers.net
    #1 Rank
    BetRivers.net
    Bonus
    $1,000 Spin to Win Virtual Credits Everyday
    8.7
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    About BetRivers.net
    BetRivers.net

    Since 2016, BetRivers.NET has been a powerhouse in the US social casino scene, offering top-quality games from NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and others. With over 700 slots, live casino games, and ongoing tournaments, it’s a must-visit. All players enjoy automatic enrollment in the loyalty scheme and receive free virtual credits every four hours.

    Read review
    Overview
    • Website us.betrivers.net
    • Established 2016
    • Min deposit $1.99
    • No Deposit Bonus $20 virtual credits
    Rating
    8.7 / 10
    Bonuses
    8/10
    Payment Options
    9/10
    Customer Support
    8/10
    Licensing & Safety
    10/10
    User experience
    7/10
    Game Selection
    10/10
    User reviews
    9/10

    Payment methods

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • Discover
    • PayPal
    21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
  • GoldSlips Casino
    #2 Rank
    GoldSlips Casino
    Bonus
    5S Coins and 100K Gold Coins
    7.1
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    About GoldSlips Casino
    GoldSlips Casino

    GoldSlips Casino, launched in 2023 and available in most states, is quickly gaining traction as a promising social casino. With a straightforward yet engaging platform, we’re eager to see its expansion in bonuses and promotions. Check out our comprehensive review for insights on gameplay, ratings, and more at GoldSlips.

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    Overview
    Rating
    7.1 / 10
    Bonuses
    6/10
    Payment Options
    7/10
    Customer Support
    7/10
    Licensing & Safety
    8/10
    User experience
    7/10
    Game Selection
    7/10
    User reviews
    8/10

    Payment methods

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • Discover
    • ACH
    • PayPal
    21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
  • Huuuge
    #3 Rank
    Huuuge
    Bonus
    4+ Billion Free Chips
    8.4
    Read review
    About Huuuge
    Huuuge

    Huuuge Casino boasts a robust selection of 201 finely crafted games, making it a major player in the social casino scene since its launch in 2014. Powered by Huuuge Games and supported by well-known providers like Aristocrat and Playtech, it offers over 4 billion free chips for linking your Facebook and Apple ID. Don’t miss the welcome bonus upon login. For more details, dive into our full Huuuge Social Casino review.

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    Overview
    Rating
    8.4 / 10
    Bonuses
    10/10
    Payment Options
    8/10
    Customer Support
    7/10
    Licensing & Safety
    10/10
    User experience
    8/10
    Game Selection
    8/10
    User reviews
    8/10

    Payment methods

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • American Express
    • Discover
    • Apple Pay
    • PayPal
    • +2
    21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
  • Casino4Fun
    #4 Rank
    Casino4Fun
    Bonus
    500 VC$ on sign-up
    8.9
    Read review
    About Casino4Fun
    Casino4Fun

    Rush Games Casino4Fun has become a favorite among online social casinos, offering easy account setup and daily virtual coin benefits. Since its 2023 launch, players enjoy jackpot promotions and games ranging from live craps to popular slots crafted by top industry developers. See what our experts at Lucky Gambler have to say about Rush Games Casino4Fun.

    Read review
    Overview
    Rating
    8.9 / 10
    Bonuses
    10/10
    Payment Options
    8/10
    Customer Support
    7/10
    Licensing & Safety
    10/10
    User experience
    9/10
    Game Selection
    9/10
    User reviews
    9/10

    Payment methods

    • Visa
    • Mastercard
    • Discover
    • American Express
    21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply

Utah Online Gambling Laws

There are many laws on wagering in Utah, and none of them are favorable for people who want to partake in gambling activities. Even if you practice responsible gambling, you’ll be hard-pressed to learn about the incredibly strict Utah gambling laws.

Title 76, chapter 10 outlines several different laws related to wagering for Utah residents. For starters, you won’t be able to find any in-person poker rooms, live casino games, or even electronic games like progressive slot games and video poker. There are no Utah casino sites, and any casino site found to be offering betting or operating a gambling device will be found guilty of a third-degree felony.

It’s important to note that this law also includes Internet bidding! This means Utah residents can’t operate a gambling site, even for close friends or family, and can’t partake in any online betting. If you see advertisements for the best Utah online casinos, know that these are more than likely offshore casinos, and you will not recuperate any lost earnings.

How Does Utah Regulate Gambling?

Many other states in the country have a regulatory authority that oversees online gambling activities. These government bodies have the power to amend online gambling laws, issue licenses to prospective casinos, and provide customer resources.

In short, these state regulatory bodies ensure that casinos are operating legally and their machines are calibrated fairly. From slot machines to live dealer blackjack, all of these activities fall under the purview of government bodies.

Because there are currently no online casinos or in-person casinos in Utah, there is no regulatory body either. If casinos in Utah were ever to be allowed, or if the state were to legalize real money gambling, a new organization would need to be created to oversee these Utah casinos.

Utah is unique in that it also does not offer a lottery for cash prizes. Most states that don’t offer casinos still offer lotteries. Again, with no existing lottery system, no organization will oversee or regulate this gambling type. This is why it’s crucial to play at reputable online sweepstakes casinos and avoid so-called “Utah casinos.”

Online Casino Games and Gambling in Utah

For Utah players who are itching to play online casino games legally, don’t fret. You can play casino games legally and for free with a social casino site! Social online casino sites offer free online slots, free casino games, free coins, and legal online gambling!

It’s important to note that these online casinos differ from real money online casinos and offshore online casino gaming sites. A real-money online gaming site works by allowing players to bet funds on their favorite game, such as online poker, and win cash prizes based on chance.

However, sweepstakes-based online casinos in Utah operate differently. A sweepstakes casino operates by allowing Utah players to play casino games online using free gold coins or other online free coins. These can also be won through more gameplay or purchases. Players can then use them to win prizes through sweepstakes.

Social casinos are the same as sweepstakes casinos, but they should not be confused with offshore casinos. Reputable social casinos will have various online reviews, a good selection of games like online slots, and such incentives as a welcome bonus.

Offshore casinos often do not have incentives, a large selection of games, or a working customer service center. Stick to social and sweepstakes casinos so you can play for free and avoid losing your money to a shady online casino.

Utah Online Casino Poker

There is no legal way to win money or play online poker in Utah using real wages. This means you can’t log on to a betting site, use cash or credit to make a deposit or win real cash prizes through online poker. The solution is to use a sweepstakes poker website like Global Poker. Much like other sweepstakes sites, you can play poker for free and enter for a chance to win prizes, all while staying within the law!

Utah Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports are a legal way to gamble, although it’s not technically considered gambling by definition. In Utah, the definition of gambling is betting money when the outcome is based on “chance.” However, since selecting a fantasy football team, baseball team, or other sports team and betting on their outcome takes skill, Utah players can download the DraftKings app and place bets online.

Utah Sports Betting

Unfortunately, sports betting, unlike daily fantasy sports, is still outlawed. That’s because betting on the outcome of a win doesn’t take skill if you’re not taking the time to select players from your favorite team based on skill. While popular DFS sites operate separate sportsbook sites, like DraftKings and FanDuel, players in Utah cannot access the online sports betting side of the app or website.

Utah Online Horse Betting

While horse betting was once legal in the state, it currently remains outlawed both in-person and online. Other states allow for retail horse betting, which means players can place bets while within a racetrack, this isn’t the case with Utah. You can find a handful of smaller race tracks with live horse races, but you won’t be able to bet on the outcome of these horses winning. Doing so is illegal!

Utah Lottery

You’d think the lottery would be legal in Utah since it generates millions in revenue. Unfortunately, like all other forms of gambling, there is no Utah lottery in the state. If you visit a store selling scratch-offs, lottery cards, or other types of gambling devices, know that it is illegal. You might not be able to recover any lost funds from purchasing these betting materials.

Utah Land Based Casinos

Believe it or not, the best Utah casinos are located outside the state in neighboring Nevada! Utah is, more than likely, not going to legalize gambling any time soon and West Wendover, NV, has a thriving industry of casinos. From getting a welcome bonus to playing bingo games in person, these land-based casinos offer lots of perks for those willing to make the drive!

History of Gambling Legislation in Utah

Because there is no existing regulating authority, no new laws that make it legal to gamble in-person or online, and no signs of laws changing, there’s little to say in terms of state gambling laws. However, to understand why the state is so against wagering, it’s important to look at its demographics.

Utah is home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has a significant impact on the state and its demographic, with 42% of people identifying as members of the LDS community, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Because of the Church’s strong opposition to betting, it’s no wonder that the state and its residents continue to ban gambling in all its forms.

In addition, there is an expressly written opposition to gambling in the state’s Constitution, established in 1895. This means that for over 100 years the state and its residents have not bothered to modify it to allow for legalized gambling. A chance came in 1925 when pari-mutuel horse betting was legalized in the state, but this was quickly repealed in 1927 and remains illegal.

Utah Online Casinos FAQ

What is the gambling age in Utah?

There is no legal gambling age in the state since no bidding is allowed within its lines. However, most social and sweepstakes casino websites allow players as young as 18 to play games.

Who regulates gambling in Utah?

There is no government organization or body to regulate gambling since this activity is strictly prohibited.

Are Utah online casinos legal?

No, there is no form of legal online casino gambling in Utah. This also includes private gambling sites and similarly run websites created specifically to place and take bets.

Can I win real money at online casinos in Utah?

It is not possible to win any real money, since there are no legally operating online casinos in the state. However, social casinos often offer players a welcome bonus of gold coins, which can be used to enter sweepstakes for real money prizes.

Are gambling winnings taxable in Utah?

No, the state does not tax gambling winnings since there are currently no legal forms of wagering. If you do happen to win a cash prize at a legal sweepstakes casino or win a lottery in another state, you will need to report your income in your federal tax return and be subject to taxes where you have won your prize money.

When will online casinos be legal in Utah?

The chances of online casinos becoming legal in Utah are slim. Even states with casinos and lotteries are still debating legalizing online casinos, so there’s no telling when this state with no type of legal betting will move in favor of online betting.

Veronica Foster Written by Veronica Foster

I’m a seasoned gambler with a decade of experience in games like blackjack and roulette, and a particular fondness for slot machines. Now, as a writer for iGaming IQ Inc and Lucky Gambler, I use my expertise to educate others on smart, responsible betting, winning strategies, and choosing the best online casinos.

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