There is absolutely no lottery legalized in the state of Utah. Gambling in Utah as a whole has been prohibited since back in 1927 most likely due to the strong religious community. It has been argued that by having a state-run Utah lottery, they can bring in more revenue for causes such as the education system, but it is unlikely that the ban will be overruled.
For players to get in on the action and play the lotto, they can travel to neighboring states such as Arizona, Colorado or Idaho. Although there is a lack of lottery presence in the state, players from Utah can travel to many other states to take a shot at winning big. Travelling west, they can also head to Nevada to visit casinos. It is very unlikely that this will change in the future as there is a firm belief in the state that it should stay banned.
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The Various Lottery Games are Available
There are multiple states that are close to Utah that offer gaming options for potential players. Almost 20% of tickets purchased in Idaho, for example, are from people in Utah. All prize money is to be collected from a vendor in whichever state the ticket was purchased. Next we’re going to run through some popular nationwide games that are available in most other states so stay tuned and see if any of these are worth the road trip!
Mega Millions: Huge Jackpots
Mega Millions, originally took off as the Big Game in 1996 with 6 states originally participating – Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts and Virginia. Mega Millions is now played in 45 states as well as the district of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. In 2012, Mega Millions shattered jackpot records by hitting a staggering $656 million, holding the title for four years until a Powerball jackpot hit over $1.5 billion. To make the game more enticing, Mega Millions was one of the first games to offer a massive second prize of $5 million.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount (most recent) | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Megaball | $164,000,000 | 1:302,575,350 |
| 5 | $1,654,256 | 1:12,607,306 |
| 4 + Megaball | $15,209 | 1:931,001 |
| 4 | $552 | 1:38,792 |
| 3 + Megaball | $223 | 1:14,547 |
| 3 | $11 | 1:606 |
| 2 + Megaball | $10 | 1:693 |
| 1 + Megaball | $4 | 1:89 |
| Megaball only | $2 | 1:37 |
Powerball: America’s Favorite
Powerball was initially started in 1992 and is an American favorite. With games held in 21 districts in total, drawings are twice a week and the minimum jackpot is a whopping $20 million. Powerball set a world record in 2016 with 3 lucky winners sharing a massive prize of $1.586 billion. With decent odds of 1 in 24.9 to win a prize, this is one game that inspires millions to turn their lives around and take that shot at the jackpot! Powerball winners also have the option to choose a lump sum payment or annuity type with equal payments spread over 29 years.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount (most recent) | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | $29,000,000 | 1:292,201,338 |
| 5 | $61,095 | 1:11,688,054 |
| 4 + Powerball | $47,374 | 1:913,129 |
| 4 | $601 | 1:36,525 |
| 3 + Powerball | $159 | 1:14,494 |
| 3 | $8 | 1:580 |
| 2 + Powerball | $10 | 1:701 |
| 1 + Powerball | $5 | 1:92 |
| Powerball only | $4 | 1:38 |
Cash 4 Life: Set for Life
Cash 4 Life is a chance to win a unique prize of $1000 cash every day for the rest of your life. Simply choose 5 basic number and 1 special number for your chance to become rich! This game is available in 9 states through the US. If the daily cash prize doesn’t entice you, you also have the option to swap that to $7,000,000 upfront. Some states also offer a ‘quick pick’ option that lets a system generate your ticket details.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Cash Ball | $1,000/day for life | 1:21,846,048 |
| 5 | $1,000/week for life | 1:7,282,016 |
| 4 + Cash Ball | $2,500 | 1:79,440 |
| 4 | $500 | 1:26,480 |
| 3 + Cash Ball | $100 | 1:1,471 |
| 3 | $25 | 1:490 |
| 2 + Cash Ball | $10 | 1:83 |
| 2 | $4 | 1:28 |
| 1 + Cash Ball | $2 | 1:13 |
Lottery Scratchers
Scratchers are a quick way to win cash. They have much better odds than the lotto options we discussed previously, however the prizes are also quite lower. Each state has a unique set of scratch cards available for purchase with prices ranging from $1 to $25 in $5 multiple most of the time. Scratcher options are updated frequently with new and exciting promotions and games to take advantage of. The odds for scratchers can be as low as 1:3 and will vary depending on price and prize amounts. All forms of scratchers are banned in Utah.
Important Laws Regarding Utah Lotteries
Given the current situation in Utah with lotteries not legal, there are no laws or regulations. Based on historical suggestions and attempts to legalize lotteries in Utah, it does not appear that the future will see lotteries be legalized. If, however, lotteries were to legalize in Utah, it would safe to assume they would take on similar rules and regulations to other states in America. Please see below for some of the common rules regarding lotto’s in the United States.
| Legal Age for Lottery Games: | 18+ (some gaming options require older) |
| Tax on Winnings: | Varies from state to state |
| Anonymity for Winners: | Varies from state to state |
| Limit to Claim Win: | Generally, 6 months but sometimes 12 month |
| Online Lottery: | Varies from state to state |
As you can see from the table above, the different rules and regulations vary from state to state and can impact the ways that players are able to get involved. For example, online lotteries are a great way to join in on the action from the comfort of your own home, but this option is only available in a handful of states where in others it’s mandatory to purchase from local vendors.
Conclusion
To summarize, it is important that if you are looking to play and you are from Utah, to research the rule and options available in your nearest states. Unfortunately, it is not likely that Utah will soon have its own state lottery, but if you do wish to travel, be careful not to get the regulations from one state confused with another. In any case, play responsibly, support the neighboring states and try to have some fun!
Common Questions that People Also Ask
Below, we’ll be diving deep into some common questions that people ask regarding lotto’s in Utah and surrounding states. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please head to the American Lottery website.
Are there legal online lotteries in Utah?
Unfortunately, there is no lottery or any form of gambling whatsoever in Utah. The state banned all gambling in the early 1900’s and has since had no form of it in the community. Many have lobbied against this but failed. This is presumably due to the local culture.
How much tax do I pay on winnings if I live in Utah?
Taxes paid from winning lotteries in other states will be taxed at the rate of the state that the ticket was purchased from. Federal taxes are roughly 24% which are applicable to all winnings, with some states not taxing further, and some taxing a further small percentage.
Is the climate looking to change in Utah?
There have been several attempts to legalize lotteries in Utah, most arguments based on the fact that the revenue made from the lotto can contribute extraordinarily to the state’s public systems such as education or health, however there has been no success in this, nor has there been any indication that this may change.
Can I play online if I live in Utah?
Legislation to approve online lotteries can take a large amount of time which is why it is only available in certain states. Fortunately, some states do let players from outside take part in their online lotteries for example, you have the opportunity to play some of the bigger draw games in a state near you as there are, in some cases, no restrictions for players outside Utah to take part.