Shurtleff: Remember, Even Harmless Fun Is Illegal In Utah

Because there apparently aren’t enough real criminals to pursue in Utah, Attorney General Shurtleff wants everyone to remember that he’s looking to fine people who bet on March Madness brackets this year.

Utah:  The state where it will always be illegal to be an adult.   

UPDATE 03/11/2008  11:07:  I like VOU’s proposed solution to the silliness that is Utah’s extreme gambling prohibition.

8 Comments »

1. From the article:

   “We received a March Madness play book in the mail for an online gambling site called BetUS.com. We found it interesting because it’s being mailed to Utahns even though online betting isn’t legal here or anywhere in the U.S. Yet it would seem from the brochure that it’s perfectly legal.”

   Comment by Cameron — March 11, 2008 @ 11:08 am

2. I hadn’t realized that Eliot Spitzer had resigned as the Governor of New York and moved to Utah to be the AG.

   Comment by Daniel — March 11, 2008 @ 11:21 am

3. Also from the article:

   Roberts says gambling is gambling. “If you’re betting $20, a can of peas, or if you’re betting $10,000, you’re still risking something of value and it still could be a crime under the law,” he said. ”

   Cameron, defend Utah’s draconian ban on office pools, home poker games, or bingo if you want but don’t distort the record. Utah’s AG is threatening everyone who does these things not just people who wager online.

   Comment by Jeremy Manning — March 11, 2008 @ 11:44 am

4. What is silly is that March Maddess pools are illegal almost everywhere in the US, but most AGs don’t get their panties in a twist because of them.

   Comment by Daniel — March 11, 2008 @ 12:23 pm

5. I don’t know, I read your online news reference, and I don’t see where Shurtleff is threatening to arrest people for bracket pools. I see a reporter quoting an official from Shurtleff’s office saying that under the current law, yes, those pools are illegal. I have yet to hear of anyone being arrested for it. I also note that it’s illegal in every state. But I guess it’s only “draconian” in Utah.

   Comment by Cameron — March 11, 2008 @ 2:07 pm

6. I’ve lived in several states in this great nation but Utah is the only one where the AG publicly calls out citizens in the days before the NCAA tournament and warns against gambling. Again…aren’t there any real crimes out there that authorities should be focusing on?

   Comment by Jeremy Manning — March 11, 2008 @ 2:37 pm

7. What you don’t understand Jeremy is that office pools are “gateway gambling” just like marijuana is a gateway drug. It only takes an office pool to turn Joe Citizen into a gambling addict, wasting all his money in Wendover and Vegas! We must stop this sickness before it spreads. Call the AG’s office!

   Comment by Daniel — March 11, 2008 @ 3:24 pm

8. Silly. Utah has a rich history of legislating morality. In fact, back in the day, Bishops doubled as legislators. I guess we’ve come a ways since then

   Comment by nosurfgirl — March 16, 2008 @ 7:01 pm

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