Nov 8, 2024 - News
Utah among dwindling group of states that bans sports betting
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Utah is one of a dwindling number of states that forbid sports betting following the election.
Driving the news: Missouri voters last Tuesday adopted a constitutional amendment legalizing sports betting by a razor-thin margin: 50.07% yes to 49.93% no.
The big picture: Sports gambling has swept the nation since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door in 2018 for states to allow it.
Zoom out: Missouri is the 39th state to legalize sports betting in some respect.
- Nearly 80% of U.S. states have legalized sports betting after Tuesday.
Yes, but: Utah is not alone. The two most populous states in the nation — California and Texas — are among the holdouts.
Zoom in: In Utah, sports betting, along with other types of gambling, is a Class B misdemeanor.
- Fun fact: Utah's gambling law has a specific exemption for claw machines among other "amusements."