The new regulations caused a public outcry and were repealed in 1927, and Utah has remained a completely gambling-free state ever since. When other states were joining the Multi-State Lottery Association, Utah adamantly declined to establish a state lottery.
Utah is home to eight federally-recognized Indian tribes, but the state refused to sign compacts with them when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988. The only time Utah politicians made a move that benefitted gambling enthusiasts was in 1925 when pari-mutuel horse race betting was legalized within state lines. Utah is very hostile toward gambling – its prohibition on this form of entertainment is embedded in its constitution, which undoubtedly has to do with the state’s Mormon roots.
