Utah Lawmakers Propose Ban on Proposition Bets

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The Utah state legislature is considering a bill that would ban so-called proposition bets, which allow people to wager on specific outcomes like the number of three-pointers a basketball player will make or the winner of a presidential election. Republican State Representative Joseph Elison has authored HB 243 to define prop bets as illegal gambling, which is already prohibited in Utah.

Why it matters

Proposition bets have grown in popularity in recent years, especially with the expansion of legal sports betting across the U.S. However, some lawmakers view them as a form of unregulated gambling that can lead to addiction and other social ills. The proposed Utah ban is part of a broader debate over the role of gambling in the state.

The details

HB 243 would define proposition bets, also known as prop bets, as a form of illegal gambling in Utah. The bill's author, Republican State Representative Joseph Elison, says prop bets should be banned because they allow people to wager on specific outcomes that are not directly tied to the final result of a game or event.

• The Utah state legislature is currently considering HB 243.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Utah state legislature will vote on HB 243 in the coming weeks.