Although Utah is one of the least gambling-friendly states in the country, players do have the option of playing at sweepstakes casinos. You can play online casino games at sweepstakes or social casino sites for free! Read our comprehensive guide to Utah online casinos to discover the best social casinos in the state, top bonus offers, available games, and more.
To be clear, you cannot play for real money at sweepstakes casinos in Utah. You can play casino games for free using GC and SC. You do not have to spend a single penny to play at a social casino. If you do collect enough SC, you can redeem them for prizes, including gift cards and cash.
The best casino game for you will ultimately depend on your personal preference. We like slots because of the variety and thrill of hitting a jackpot. On the other hand, table games like baccarat and blackjack are enjoyable due to the challenge and skill required to win.
Alongside Hawaii, Utah is the least gambling-friendly state in the US. State law expressly forbids “any game of chance, lottery, or gift enterprise under any pretense for any purpose.” As such, there is not even a state lottery in Utah at a time when online gambling and sports betting are being legalized across the country. The opposition of the LDS Church and the state legislature towards gambling suggests that there is no change to the situation on the horizon.
Sweepstakes casinos are currently the only legal option for playing online casino games in Utah. As they operate under sweepstakes laws, social casinos are legal and allow you to play with zero financial obligations.
Getting started at any of our top-recommended Utah online casinos is easy and takes only a few minutes. Here’s what you need to do:
You do not need to make a purchase to play at a sweepstakes casino in Utah. You receive some GC and SC just for signing up and logging in daily. You can choose to buy coin packages to enhance your gameplay experience, but it is not required.
Buying a coin package is simple:
You can purchase coin packages using all the most popular payment methods. Our top-recommended sites accept credit and debit cards, cryptocurrencies, e-wallets, and bank transfers. Most of the top payment methods can also be used for redemptions when redeeming SC for cash, but the minimum redemption amounts may vary between sites.
Players 18 and over can play at Utah social casinos. The minimum age can vary between sweepstakes casinos, so be sure to read their terms and conditions carefully.
You must be at least 18 years old to play at Utah sweepstakes casinos. You will need to confirm your identity, age, and location with the site by submitting a photo of your ID during the registration process.
As neither online gambling nor land-based casinos are legal in Utah, there is no regulatory body overseeing gambling in the state.
As there are no real money online casinos in Utah, sweepstakes casinos are the only legal way to play online games in the state. Our recommended Utah social casinos offer thousands of the very best games from the biggest software providers.
Whether you prefer playing slots, table games, or live dealer games, there’s something for everyone at sweepstakes casinos. They also feature unique and exclusive games, such as plinko and slingo, that cannot be found at land-based casinos in neighboring states.
Most people want to play their favorite games on the go. That’s why we constantly check a social casino’s mobile site. All our top recommended sweepstakes casinos offer a fully optimized mobile site with seamless gameplay on both iOS and Android devices.
For a more immersive experience, we recommend trying a social casino with a dedicated mobile app. A casino app is a fun and straightforward way to access your favorite slots and table games instantly. The best mobile casino apps available for players in Utah are listed below:
The history of gambling in Utah is inextricably linked to the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Early Mormon settlers to what would become Utah already opposed gambling thanks to the teachings of Joseph Smith and, latterly, Brigham Young. With a two-year pari-mutuel exception in the 1920s, gambling has been expressly outlawed in Utah since before statehood, and general opposition towards gambling remains to this day.
As Utah has an LDS majority, both within the population and the state legislature, and the Church is opposed to all forms of gambling, it seems unlikely that there will be any change to the situation.
Social casinos operate under sweepstakes laws and are therefore not considered to be online gambling in Utah. As such, they are a fun and legal way to play casino games without any financial risk.
An ordinance is passed to suppress gambling, prohibiting activities such as card-playing, horse racing, cockfighting, and other forms of gaming.
All forms of gambling are declared illegal in preparation for the territory’s application for statehood.
Legislation is passed allowing pari-mutuel betting. Lawmakers repealed this legislation two years later.
A referendum proposed allowing individual counties to establish pari-mutuel betting within their borders. It is soundly defeated.
Governor Gary Herbert signed HB 108 into law, banning both online and land-based gambling.
Rep. Kera Birkeland introduces a bill to introduce a state lottery. It fails to gain traction within the state legislature.
As real-money online casinos are not legal in Utah, some players may consider signing up for an offshore casino. Offshore casinos are based overseas and do not hold any valid licenses in the United States. Although they may have foreign permits, such as those issued by the Malta Gaming Authority, they are not required to comply with US laws.
We do not recommend offshore casinos, as they can be risky and may lead to difficulties when attempting to withdraw your funds.
Instead, we highly recommend one of our top-rated Utah social casinos. You can play the best online casino games for free at a safe and legal US-based site.
As gambling is illegal under state law, there are no land-based casinos in Utah. This also applies to Native American reservations, meaning that there are no tribal casinos in Utah either.
If you're looking for a land-based casino, consider traveling to neighboring Nevada, which boasts over 300 casinos.
No, real-money online casinos are not legal in the state of Utah. You can redeem your SC at social casinos for gift cards or even cash.
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are currently legal in Utah. Sweepstakes casinos are a fun and safe way to play casino games in Utah.
The answer ultimately comes down to your personal preference. Our experts review social casinos based on their available games, bonuses, apps, and more to help you choose the perfect site.
Yes, social and sweepstakes casinos in Utah are safe. All sweepstakes casinos use SSL encryption to protect player data. They also offer games from top software providers, which are independently audited to ensure fairness.
Yes, almost all online casinos in Utah offer bonuses. These include first-purchase bonuses, no deposit bonuses, free spin offers, cashback deals, and more.