Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB243: Gambling Revisions
Status: Signed into law, March 25, 2026
This bill clarifies the definition of gambling.
What the bill says
An act or process by which an individual becomes eligible to receive a prize offered for participation in any form of sweepstakes, game, or contest. (6) (a) "Fringe gambling" means any de facto form of gambling, lottery, fringe gaming device, or video gaming device that is given, conducted, or offered for use or sale by a business in exchange for anything of value or incident to the purchase of another good or service. (b) "Fringe gambling" does not include: (i) a promotional activity that is clearly ancillary to the primary activity of a business; or (ii) use of an amusement device or vending.
From the enrolled text, March 3, 2026:
an act or process by which an individual becomes eligible to receive a prize offered for participation in any form of sweepstakes, game, or contest. (6) (a) "Fringe gambling" means any de facto form of gambling, lottery, fringe gaming device, or video gaming device that is given, conducted, or offered for use or sale by a business in exchange for anything of value or incident to the purchase of another good or service. (b) "Fringe gambling" does not include: (i) a promotional activity that is clearly ancillary to the primary activity of a business; or (ii) use of an amusement device or vending machine. (7) (a) "Fringe gaming device" means a mechanically, electrically, or electronically operated machine or device that: (i) is not an amusement device or a vending machine; (ii) is capable of displaying or otherwise presenting information on a screen or through any other mechanism; and (iii) provides the user with a card, token, credit, gift certificate, product, or opportunity to participate in a contest, game, gaming scheme, or sweepstakes with a potential return of money or other prize. (b) "Fringe gaming device" includes a machine or device similar to a machine or device described in Subsection (7)(a) that seeks to avoid application or circumvent this part or Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 27. (8) (a) "Gambling" means …