A proposal to legalize betting on horse races stumbled at the gate on Monday, with the sponsor asking a Senate committee to send his bill back to Rules and effectively ending its already-slim chances of advancing during the 2019 session.
Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, said allowing wagers on horse racing could provide a “windfall” to counties that opt in, while allowing Utahns involved in the racing industry to conduct business and generate revenue in the state rather than in places like Wyoming and Idaho.
Utah has long resisted any and all forms of gambling, with the state’s constitution prohibiting “games of chance” and legislation sponsored this year to crack down on so-called fringe gaming machines, which run on tokens or credits in lieu of direct payment.