Utah Lawmaker Advocates for State Lottery

 

In a state known for its stringent stance on gambling, a significant shift may be on the horizon. State Representative Kera Birkeland, a Republican from Morgan, Utah, has announced plans to reintroduce legislation proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize a state lottery. If successful, this move could bring Utah in line with the 45 other states in the U.S. that already have lotteries.

Rep. Birkeland's proposal, which is expected to be introduced in the 2025 legislative session, marks a renewed effort to bring the issue of a state lottery before Utah voters. If the legislature approves the amendment, it will appear on the ballot in the 2026 general election, allowing residents to decide the fate of the measure.

This isn't the first time Birkeland has pushed for lottery legalization. She previously introduced a similar proposal, but it stalled in the state legislature, facing opposition from both the Senate and Governor Spencer Cox. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a significant influence in Utah politics, also played a critical role in the resistance.

 

 

The Case for a State Lottery

Birkeland argues that legalizing the lottery would prevent Utah residents from spending money on gambling in neighboring states. Currently, Utah is one of only five states in the U.S. without a state lottery, and residents frequently travel to nearby states like Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming to participate in lotteries. Birkeland contends that by keeping this money within state borders, Utah could generate new revenue that would particularly benefit rural communities.

“There’s still those saying that this is, you know, really going to decay morally our state, and to them, I just hope that this compromise is showing we’re not again changing behaviors; we’re just capturing those same behaviors within our state limits,” Birkeland said in a statement to Fox 13 Salt Lake City.

Her proposal envisions the lottery being available only in Utah counties that share borders with states already operating lotteries. This strategic approach aims to mitigate concerns that widespread access to a lottery could lead to an increase in gambling within Utah's more densely populated urban areas.

The road to legalizing a state lottery in Utah is fraught with challenges. The state has historically maintained a restrictive stance on gambling, with laws that not only prohibit a state lottery but also ban sports betting and other forms of gambling. Previous efforts to expand gambling, including a 2021 bill to legalize skill games and a 2019 proposal to permit horse betting, have both failed to gain traction.

Opponents of the lottery argue that legalizing gambling could lead to a host of social problems, including addiction and financial instability for vulnerable populations. The moral argument against gambling, often rooted in the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, remains a powerful force in Utah politics.

 

Potential Economic Impact

Despite the opposition, Birkeland is steadfast in her belief that a state lottery could bring significant financial benefits to Utah. She estimates that Utah is losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually as residents spend money on lotteries in neighboring states. By legalizing the lottery, Birkeland hopes to keep that money within the state, potentially reducing the need for tax increases and providing additional funding for public services.

Birkeland has also suggested that the revenue from the lottery could be used to reduce property taxes, a point she has emphasized in discussions with her colleagues. “I’ve ran a number of bills that try to cap property taxes and try to reduce government spending, and none of them ever go anywhere,” she remarked earlier this year. For those opposed to the lottery, Birkeland poses a simple question: if not the lottery, then what?

Legalizing a state lottery could open the door to further discussions on expanding gambling in Utah. While Birkeland has been careful to frame her proposal as a targeted measure, limited to border counties, some fear that it could pave the way for more extensive gambling operations, including retail and online casinos.

For now, the focus remains on whether Utah voters will get the chance to decide on the lottery in 2026. If Birkeland's proposal moves forward, it could mark a significant shift in the state's approach to gambling—a shift that could have wide-ranging implications for Utah's economy, politics, and social fabric.

 

 

Conclusion

As Utah grapples with the potential of legalizing a state lottery, the debate touches on broader issues of economic necessity, personal freedom, and moral responsibility. Rep. Kera Birkeland’s proposal presents an opportunity for Utah to reconsider its stance on gambling, weighing the potential benefits of new revenue against the deep-seated concerns of gambling’s impact on society. Whether the state is ready to take this leap remains to be seen, but the conversation it sparks will undoubtedly be one of the most watched political developments in the coming years.