Though gambling is illegal in Utah, a bill has been introduced in the state legislature to make betting on horse races legal
The bill is sponsored by state Senator David Hinkins and calls for local voters to allow pari-mutuel betting by county.
Hinkins said the state ban on horse race betting is hurting the state’s horse industry, including not only horse breeders—who are forced to operate in neighboring states—but also for industries that support horse ranching. Hinkins also said counties would be able to keep generated revenue.
Utah considered a referendum on pari-mutuel betting—which a 1927 court decision says would not violate the state’s gambling services ban—in 1992, but the measure failed.
