Utah is one of only a handful of states without a state lottery but a proposal has recently been advanced to change that and bring much-needed tax dollars.
Let’s go through the main issues that hinder this and other industries like online sportsbooks from operating in the Beehive State.
Gambling Taboo
Utah is one of only five states in the U.S. that does not have a state lottery or sports betting, some of the most lucrative voluntary revenue streams that generate massive amounts of money for education, veterans affairs, and a myriad of other social causes.
Unlike the other four states that have eschewed a state lottery; Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada, Utah’s prohibition is deeply rooted in religion. It is home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and there are more Mormons per capita in Utah than anywhere else in the world.
Over 5,200 Mormon congregations and nearly 69% of the state population identify as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gambling is taboo in that religion and there is little tolerance to granting any special dispensation.
But Kera Birkeland, a former Mrs. Utah beauty pageant contestant who is now a Republican state legislator, has decided to roll the proverbial dice and see if she can buck tradition and hold onto her legislative seat in the process.
“I am personally more concerned about senior citizens living on fixed incomes. It’s not in the legislation, but something I’m looking into,” stated Birkeland.
Long Road Ahead
It won’t be easy getting this legislation passed as it would also require a constitutional amendment which would need the support of two-thirds of the lawmakers in both chambers before it would be put on the ballot where a majority of Utah’s voters would have to approve.
That’s a yeoman’s task in a state that has ingrained opinions about what they perceive to be vices of all kinds including gambling. However, the prospect of an extra $200 million flooding the tax coffers could be enough of a motivating factor to win support for Birkeland’s unconventional idea.
“I think that’s a really important conversation to have on Capitol Hill as we go into this session because that is really the No. 1 concern of my constituents. And if we need to have the conversation around a lottery to elevate that and actually address the issue, then so be it,” she stated.
Legislative Recap
This is not the first time a gaming proposal has been brought before the legislature. A horse racing bill proposed in 2019 and a push to legalize “skill-based games” in 2021 both died quick deaths in the legislature.
Utah Governor, Spencer Cox, is not a fan of bringing gambling into his state, especially under his administration. Cox was recently quoted as saying, “I think lotteries and gambling in general are taxes on people who are bad at math. They do more harm than good.”
And while it’s never a bad thing to get support from the man or woman in the corner office, their support is not required, as any amendment that goes before the voters is not subject to the governor’s veto power in Utah.
Bookmakers Review will continue to monitor this story and update our readers as events unfold.
Calculators
