Utah bans online poker and gambling
Governor Gary Herbert signs legislation allowing the state to opt out of future federal regulation
Utah has become the first US state to pass a pre-emptive bill ruling out any involvement in federal internet poker regulation.
The bill, initially introduced by Representative Stephen Sandstrom in January, was on the table for just two months before being signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert last week.
HB108 states that: “If any federal law is enacted that authorises internet gambling in the states and that federal law provides that individual states may opt out of internet gambling, this state shall opt out of internet gambling in the manner provided by federal law and within the time frame provided by that law”.
Those who violate the statute are guilty of a Class B misdemeanor and are subject to a fine of up to US$1,000 and a six-month jail sentence.
Sandstrom said in a statement: “We want to keep Utah free from the negative impacts of legalised gambling. Many gambling critics see the DoJ’s recent interpretation as another major crack in America’s moral foundation.”
With a high Mormon population, Utah’s strong stance on gambling puts it with Hawaii as the only two US states without legalised gambling of any kind.
Earlier this month, the latest attempt to legalise gambling in Hawaii failed to advance in the state’s House of Representatives.