When it comes to real-money online poker in Utah, you may be surprised to find out that there are quite a number of offshore sites that are ready to serve you. Utah online poker is a popular pastime that thousands of players enjoy. This makes sense when we consider that there are no land-based casinos in Utah, so anyone looking to join a game of cards and risk actual cash must of necessity head onto the internet or travel to a casino in an adjacent state, like Nevada.
However, driving to one of these venues, waiting for a seat to open up, exchanging your money at the cashier, and conducting all the other ancillary activities involved in live casino games cuts down on the time you actually spend playing. It's far better to just log into the virtual poker room of your choice – perhaps the venerable Ignition Poker – and play from home, in your pajamas if you feel like it.
We've done the legwork of evaluating and identifying the best providers of online poker for real money in Utah. Below is our shortlist of the leading Utah online poker sites:
Unlike many other states, the statutes in force in Utah with respect to online gambling are clear and unambiguous. Unfortunately, they're clearly unfavorable and unambiguously designed to completely ban the pastime. The part of the Utah state laws that deals with this subject is Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 11.
We've researched these laws and have discovered that as long as you play online privately at home – without advertising for, promoting, financing, or enticing others to join a site – your risk of getting into legal trouble is slim to none. In fact, a 2013 article in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News reported, “Law enforcement spends little time breaking up home poker games or tracking down online bettors.”
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 and the Federal Wire Act are often mistakenly believed to criminalize online poker throughout the country. Fortunately, this legislation targets financial entities and gambling companies themselves rather than individual players. Recent court rulings have found that the Wire Act does not apply to poker anyway.
As long as you do your Utah online poker playing privately and without trying to entice others to join, you seem to be perfectly safe.
There are a couple of destinations for real money online poker in Utah that are perhaps disreputable or dishonest, but we've elected to avoid mentioning any questionable companies. The online cardroom sites that we recommend to you have all been in business for years, and they pay out winnings fairly and speedily.
The process of signing up is straightforward at any online poker real money Utah poker website. We've included instructions below for registering at our #1 rated site, Ignition Poker, but the steps should be similar at any other room albeit with a few minor differences.
All of the rooms we've highlighted have their particular strengths and areas of focus, so it's not really reasonable to designate any one of them as the best at everything. Rather, we have evaluated them according to an objective set of criteria when coming up with our rankings so that we can bring you the truth about all of them.
The games available at any given poker room vary tremendously from the basic and common, like NL Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha, to the niche and obscure, like Razz, Stud, and HORSE. Even at sites that spread the same variants, the blind levels or buyins offered are seldom identical.
There are some poker innovations that are only possible online, such as fast-fold poker, lottery-style sit n' gos, and step tournaments. The exact menu of such games differs tremendously from site to site.
Most poker providers allow you to deposit and withdraw through such familiar methods as credit cards and checks. However, there are newer payment mechanisms that we feel are superior, like Bitcoin.
Bitcoin enables rapid transaction speeds together with low fees and freedom from outdated banking restrictions. If you aren't sure how you can use Bitcoin for online poker, then check out this easy-to-understand Bitcoin walkthrough.
Most internet poker firms provide new clients with a welcome bonus on their first deposit. This is just the beginning, though, as you expect other promotions going forward, like rake races, tournament leaderboards, missions, reload bonuses, and more.
Some of these promos are valid for a long time and perhaps never expire. Others are seasonal and change quickly.
When it comes to internet poker promotions, rakeback is in a class by itself. Rakeback is an ongoing rebate on the rake you pay at the tables, and it can potentially be worth much more than any single bonus or loyalty program award. We appreciate the benefits of rakeback so much that we have incorporated it into the name of our site, Professional Rakeback.
Here's a list of all the online poker rakeback sites for Utah:
If you seek more detailed information regarding any of the reputable Utah online poker sites, then keep reading below. We have gathered together facts about the leading rooms so that you can make an informed decision.
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Ignition Poker is a great choice as it is the largest poker site available to players in Utah. Ignition boasts a wide selection of cash games including NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8 featuring blinds up to $10/$20.
Other popular formats include fast-fold Zone Poker, sit-and-gos, randomized Jackpot SNGs, and multi-table tournaments. There are recurring tournament series that come with combined guarantees in the tens of millions of dollars.
Play at Ignition is anonymous to protect recreational players from being targeted by sharks. Also, all seats at cash game tables are assigned randomly to prevent veteran players from preying upon beginners. Some grumble at these features, but they do lead to some soft games because novices feel comfortable here.
Ignition Poker offers a downloadable poker client for Windows and Mac devices. Users who prefer other hardware can take advantage of the web version of the poker room, which is compatible with any computer, tablet, or mobile device. You can get a poker bonus worth 150% of your first deposit up to $1,500 if you deposit with crypto.
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
SB Poker and its partner site BetOnline, on the Chico Poker Network, represent the third-largest option available to U.S. players. They offer numerous cash games, including NLH, PLO, PLO/8, 5 Card PLO, and 6 Card PLO with blinds up to $5/$10.
All stake levels of NLHE and PLO feature Bad Beat Jackpots. Moreover, there's further value delivered through missions and leaderboards along with the RISE rewards program.
Other offerings include sit-and-gos, randomized-prize SNGs known as Windfall Poker, fast-fold Boost Poker, and multi-table tournaments.
Sportsbetting Poker and BetOnline are available for download on any Windows or Mac system. Mobile users can also download an excellent application on any iOS or Android device. You'll receive a poker bonus equal to 100% of your first deposit up to $1,000. Visit the attached casino and sportsbook to get additional, similar deposit promotions.
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Bovada is a partner site to Ignition Poker, so the poker games on offer are entirely the same. The primary benefit to playing at Bovada is that you can wager on sports and horse racing, which is not an option at Ignition.
You can choose to bet on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and a multitude of international sporting events. There are also more obscure wagers here, like TV events, eSports, and election results. Races are listed from hundreds of tracks across the globe.
The full poker client at Bovada can be downloaded on any PC or Mac. If you would prefer to play on a mobile or tablet device, you can also access a web-based instant play version. You can receive a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to $500 as well as multiple casino, sports, and racebook offers to choose from.
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
ACR is well-known for an extensive selection of multi-table tournaments across all buy-in levels. The recurring Online Super Series is a special series of tournaments that regularly awards seven-figure prize pools, and the VENOM is an event that occurs several times a year and typically guarantees at least $5 million.
ACR also offers an array of cash games catering to every size of bankroll, fast-fold cash games, sit-and-gos, and lottery-style Jackpot SNGs.
ACR Poker has a downloadable poker client compatible with Windows and Mac systems along with a mobile version for phones and tablets. Sign up and use our exclusive bonus code PRB10FREE to receive $10 with no deposit required. You will also be eligible to get a deposit bonus equal to 100% of your first deposit up to $2,000.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
CoinPoker is a crypto-centered internet poker room that makes use of USDT, or Tether, exclusively to denominate poker play, but can use a few other coins, like BTC and ETH, for deposits and withdrawals. CoinPoker is the largest online site operating exclusively using crypto.
There are only three variants available to play here: NL Hold'em, PLO, and 5 Card PLO. You can take advantage of leaderboards for MTTs, cash games, and lottery-style Cosmic Spins.
You can play at CoinPoker using any Mac, PC, Android, or iOS device. You can get an excellent bonus of 150% up to $2,000 when you sign up. Another benefit is that you can earn 33% rakeback so long as you hold CHP, CoinPoker's unique cryptocurrency.
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
The poker room at Everygame is fairly small when compared to the places we've discussed above, but it does offer excellent promotions. 36% rakeback is issued standard, and additional value can be had by participating in weekly rake races and frequent overlay tournaments. Everygame also offers reload bonuses with regularity, and it boasts an excellent VIP rewards program.
Everygame Poker is available for download on Windows devices, but users who wish to utilize other hardware can log in to an instant-play, browser-based version. Visit Everygame today and receive a 200% poker bonus up to $1,000 on your first deposit.
Bitcoin
SwCPoker is a Bitcoin-only poker site that is well-recognized for the wide array of variants it spreads. At SwC, you'll be able to play Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, Open Face Chinese, and more.
SwC boasts excellent poker software that works well across a wide range of desktops, laptops, and smart devices. There isn't any initial deposit bonus at SwC, but you can earn up to 50% rakeback based on your volume of play over time.
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Nitrobetting is a crypto platform that offers a poker room, casino gaming, and a sportsbook. Tourneys and sit-n-goes are available though the action tends to be focused on cash game tables. Nitrobetting works directly from within any web browser, so it is fully compatible with numerous OSes, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. There's no first deposit bonus, but you can get up to 35% rakeback based on your playing volume.
The sections below aim to provide information detailing history of gambling within the state of Utah, live gambling options, and other related subjects.
Utah is basically a barren desert as far as live gambling in concerned. There are no officially allowed casinos, sports betting, racetrack betting, poker rooms, lotteries, or charitable gaming inside the state.
The few exceptions involve free-to-play games that have prizes attached, which are somewhat common in restaurants, bars, and similar businesses. Even this workaround is not foolproof with prosecutors looking carefully to make sure the prices of goods and services are not artificially inflated to effectively create pay-to-play situations.
Utah residents who feel the urge to gamble most often visit West Wendover off of I-80 just across the Nevada border. There are five casinos in Wendover where you can play poker, bet on sports, enjoy keno, sit at a blackjack table, spin the slot reels, and engage in all your other favorite casino pastimes although not every type of betting is present at every single Wendover casino.
Utah became a state in 1896 and has maintained strict laws against all forms of gambling until the present day with just one exception. There was a brief experiment with pari-mutuel racetrack betting that started in 1925, but it aroused much opposition and was terminated in 1927.
Today, about 60% of the population of Utah belongs to the LDS church, and while many of them aren't actively practicing Mormons, the view of gambling among the public is mostly negative. There are no casinos, card rooms, bingo halls, racetrack betting facilities, or any other kind of gaming with real money at stake throughout Utah. Even charitable events featuring games of chance, which are usually permitted even in states that restrict most forms of gambling, are banned.
Utah has such a tiny poker scene that there are hardly any renowned practitioners of the game from the state. The few Utahans who have had notable success in poker seem to have had to move away from their home state in order to pursue their card playing at a higher level.
Such was the case with Jared Griener who was born in Provo and grew up in Sandy just outside Salt Lake City. Several six-figure scores over the years have contributed to his career total of $2.9 million in offline tourney winnings.
Another notable player with a Utah connection is Tony Miles, born in Ogden although he now resides in Florida. Miles finished second in the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event, losing to John Cynn but still collecting $5 million for his efforts.
Perhaps you may be lucky enough to possess another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc. If this is the case, then you may have other online poker options. Here is a list of the states near Utah and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. If none of these particular states are relevant to you, then you might want look through our detail-packed guide for U.S. online poker fans.
The topic of online poker is one that's unfortunately shrouded in ignorance for the bulk of our populace. If you know anyone, whether a family member or friend, who's fascinated by the game, then perhaps you could do them a kindness by sharing this page with them.
In spite of the tough restrictions against gambling, online poker in Utah is no problem for individuals who want to head onto the internet and play the game they love. Crackdowns have punished those who maintain illegal gambling facilities within the state rather than people who quietly gamble by themselves without raising a ruckus. Join the Utah online poker site that looks best to you, and then try to run your bankroll up to baller status.
Online poker can be a fun and rewarding pastime. However, there are those whose gameplay threatens to get out of control and negatively impact important aspects of their lives. If you think that you might require some assistance in this regard, check out the below resources:
Even after reading our article about online poker in Utah, you may have unanswered questions. Look below for a roundup of some of the most common queries and their answers.
No, Utah has never seriously attempted to initiate an online poker legalization program, and there's no real prospect of a licensed internet poker market developing in the state. As one of the most gambling-unfriendly states in the Union, Utah is an extraordinary longshot to host real money iGaming platforms any time in the near or even distant future.
Yes, you can play legal online poker from the comfort of your home in Utah. There is some wording in state law that might make it seem that you're at risk if you engage in online gaming, but these provisions of the legal code are never enforced against ordinary online players.
Yes, PokerStars is acting in full accordance with Utah law. However, the only games available to Utahns are those that are denominated in practice chips rather than real money.
You see, after PokerStars was targeted in the Black Friday crackdown against online poker, the company entered an agreement with the Department of Justice whereby it agreed to exit the U.S. real money gaming market except in those states where it has explicit permission to operate.
The company says that its games are completely legal in Utah and the rest of the U.S.A., but we doubt this. The intricacies of this debate are too lengthy to delve into here, but you can gain further enlightenment on this topic with our review of Global Poker.
Although standard methods of payments, like credit cards and bank wires, are possible at most online poker sites, we heartily recommend Bitcoin. Bitcoin transactions tend to be faster than those old-school payment channels, and the fees involved are generally much smaller as well.
All of our recommended internet poker destinations for Utah's citizens fully support Bitcoin. Indeed, many of them have also started accepting other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum as well.
Yes, there are many online poker firms that let you play from your phone or tablet. Even at sites that lack dedicated mobile downloads, there's usually a web-based platform that you can use to play with a variety of hardware, including mobile devices.
There's relatively little gambling going on in Utah, but you may nevertheless wish to consult these resources:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!
Professional Rakeback has the following job openings:
All positions are remote, make your own hours, easy-going work environment.
If you are interested in any of these positions, simply contact us and let us know why you are the person for the job!