Utah has passed a bill that bans online poker in the state, as well as allowing it to opt out of any federal online poker legislaion that may be passed in the future.
The bill (titled HB108), which was signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert last week, states: “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.”
The Utah legislature passed the anti-gambling bill earlier this month following its proposal by Representative Stephen Sandstrom in January.
Passing the legislation means that Utah becomes the first state to pre-emptively ban online poker and gambling, going against a number of US states that are looking to legalise online gambling as a source of revenue.
Hawaii is the only other US state not to legalise any type of gambling within its borders. However, it is thought not likely that the state will join Utah in banning online gambling.
