Utah Set to Prohibit "Unconventional Gambling" Devices: Sweepstakes Machines in Sight
In a two-year investigation, Assistant Attorney General Steven Wuthrich compared the electronic sweepstakes machines found in various locations across Utah to slot machines in West Wendover, Nevada. The investigation's findings were used in drafting a bill (HB23) aimed at outlawing these machines, which are considered "fringe gaming."
The article was first posted on February 3, 2019, and last updated on June 23, 2025. HB23 is about to be voted on in the House floor, aiming to "beef up" the definition of gambling and close a loophole in the law that has allowed the proliferation of electronic sweepstakes machines around gas stations, rest stops, and convenience stores.
Charitable raffles and bingo are illegal in Utah due to the broad definition of gambling by the state legislature. In Utah, only a specific type of raffle is permitted, where players can make donations but also have the option to participate for free. Some of these machines also dispense gumballs at 25 cents each. Players buy tokens for these machines and hope to win rewards cards, which can be exchanged for merchandise online.
Intermountain Vending's business director, Stanford Graham, maintains that the activity provided by the gift card kiosks is not gambling. However, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler (R-Woods Cross), stated that the bill aims to clarify the definition of gambling in Utah.
Utah is one of the most gamble-dry states in America, with no forms of legal gambling, except for a specific type of raffle. This was not always the case, as there was gambling in Utah until the 1980s. The only other state with no forms of legal gambling is Hawaii.
Regarding the impact on tribal gaming in Utah or any other state, sweepstakes casinos typically operate outside traditional regulated gaming environments, which can include tribal gaming. The increasing scrutiny and potential bans on sweepstakes casinos might influence discussions about legal online gambling, but there is no specific mention of how these developments affect tribal gaming in Utah.
Many states are considering or have passed legislation to ban sweepstakes casinos, citing concerns about unregulated gaming and potential loopholes in existing laws. West Wendover, a town split by the Nevada-Utah border, offers full-scale Las Vegas-style gaming in West Wendover, but raffles are hard to find in the other part of the town.
Without specific information on Utah's legislative actions regarding electronic sweepstakes machines, it's difficult to assess the direct impact on the state's gaming environment. However, the broader context of sweepstakes gaming in the United States shows that several states are actively working to restrict or ban sweepstakes casinos.
The bill (HB23) being voted on in the House floor aims to "beef up" the definition of gambling and close a loophole in the law, targeting electronic sweepstakes machines, which are considered "fringe gaming" and can be found around gas stations, rest stops, and convenience stores, commonly associated with casino-and-gambling activities.
In Utah, where there are no forms of legal gambling, except for a specific type of raffle, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler (R-Woods Cross), stated that the bill aims to clarify the definition of gambling, suggesting that it may encompass electronic sweepstakes machines located in gift card kiosks, often marketed as not related to gambling.
