Experts say 'no way' Utah will legalize sports gambling
(KUTV) - On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court gave states the go-ahead to legalize sports gambling, but Utah lawmakers say it likely won’t be become legal in the beehive state.
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. Now, all states can decide whether to wager on sports.
“I think it’s highly unlikely, 99.9% chance that that will happen,” Senator Todd Weiler, (R-District 23) said.
Weiler called the Supreme Court ruling a victory for states, however he doesn’t plan to back betting in Utah.
“The Utah legislature is not inclined right now, and probably won’t be in the near future, to allow sports gambling in this state,” he said.
The ruling was a topic of conversation for sports journalists with the Zone Sports Network. Gordon Monson, who also writes for the Salt Tribune as a sports columnist, said there’s no way Utah lawmakers will get behind sports betting, at least not in the foreseeable future.
“I think Utah is probably last in line for that, among the states,” he said.
Monson said he’s not a gambler himself, but he knows backroom betting’s happen in the state.
“Millions of millions of people gamble on sports every year, so it’s kind of charade to pretend it’s not happening,” he said.
Monson said the state could benefit economically by passing sports gambling legislation.
“I think if people want to lay down a couple bucks on an outcome of a ball game and do so responsibly, who am I to tell them they can’t do that?”
