This guide answers a simple but important question for U.S. sports fans and travelers: which states do not allow gambling? It focuses on Utah and Hawaii and explains the legal reasons those states lack authorized sports betting and casino operations. The piece also outlines practical steps to verify current law and points readers to reliable trackers and state resources. The goal is to give a clear, evidence-based explanation you can act on. The analysis draws from state constitutional provisions, criminal statutes, and national trackers so you have sources to consult if you want to confirm the details for your situation.

As of 2026, Utah and Hawaii are the only states that broadly prohibit legalized gambling, including sports betting.

Utah's prohibition is rooted in a constitutional ban on lotteries; Hawaii relies on penal-code prohibitions with a narrow social-gambling defense.

Before using sweepstakes or skill-based platforms, check state statutes and national trackers to confirm legality where you are.

Quick answer: which two states do not allow gambling

Short direct answer: As of 2026, the two U.S. states that broadly prohibit legalized gambling, including regulated commercial casinos and sports wagering, are Utah and Hawaii, according to national legislative and industry trackers NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

One-sentence summary of why: Utah's prohibition is rooted in an express constitutional ban on lotteries and is reinforced by criminal statutes that define and outlaw gambling, while Hawaii's penal code criminalizes gambling statewide but includes a very narrow social-gambling defense with strict conditions AGA state summaries.

Which two states do not allow gambling?

Utah and Hawaii are the two states that broadly prohibit legalized gambling, including regulated sports wagering, as of 2026.

Please verify current law in your state before acting, since statutes and rules can change and may affect what activities are lawful where you live or travel.

Why knowing which states allow sports gambling matters

State-by-state legality matters because authorization by a state determines whether commercial casinos and regulated sportsbooks can operate openly and whether participants receive consumer protections such as licensing, dispute resolution, and responsible gambling measures. Where a state has not authorized sports wagering, consumers who use unregulated services may lack those protections and could face legal exposure AGA state summaries. Sports Betting States Where It's Legal in the US 2026

Different states take different policy approaches based on tax considerations, local political preferences, and constitutional or statutory constraints. That variation explains why a practice allowed in one state can be illegal in another, and why travelers and residents must check local rules rather than assume nationwide consistency NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

How to read and check a state's gambling rules - a simple framework

Step 1: Identify constitutional or statutory bans. Start by searching the state constitution for explicit language about lotteries or gambling and then look at penal or regulatory codes for definitions that criminalize games of chance. For example, an express constitutional prohibition can close off major legalization paths and is often reflected in follow-up statutes that implement that policy Utah Constitution Article VI Section 27.

Step 2: Check criminal-code definitions and exceptions. Read the statutory provisions that define gambling and any narrow defenses or exemptions, such as social-gambling rules. These definitions determine whether a particular activity, like a sweepstakes or a skill-based game, is treated as lawful or unlawful under state law Haw. Rev. Stat. section on social gambling.

Verify your state's rules on sports wagering and related activities

Before you sign up for anything that resembles wagering, pause and look up the applicable state statute or a reputable bill tracker to confirm whether the activity is allowed where you are.

Review challenge and verification steps

Step 3: Consult authoritative trackers and state resources. National trackers such as the NCSL bill tracker and industry summaries from the AGA provide up-to-date overviews of which jurisdictions have authorized sports betting and which have not, and state legislature websites provide the controlling statutory text and enacted laws NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

Utah's legal stance: constitutional ban and criminal statutes

Constitutional prohibition on lotteries: Utah's constitution explicitly prohibits lotteries, which creates a foundational barrier to authorizing a state-run lottery and signals a broad state policy against commercial gambling. That constitutional provision has guided lawmakers and has been reinforced through implementing statutes that criminalize many gambling activities Utah Constitution Article VI Section 27.

Criminal code definitions that preclude sportsbooks: Utah's criminal statutes include modern definitions of gambling and related concepts such as fringe gambling, which together make it difficult to establish a legal framework for commercial casinos or regulated sportsbooks in the state. Those statutes describe prohibited conduct and set criminal penalties for organizing or operating unlawful gambling enterprises Utah Code gambling definitions.

Practical effect: because both the constitution and the penal code reflect prohibitions, Utah does not operate a state lottery and, as of the latest national tracking, has not authorized sports betting or other commercial gambling in a way that would permit in-state sportsbooks for residents or visitors AGA state summaries.

Penal-code prohibition of gambling: Hawaii's penal code criminalizes gambling across the state, and the code does not include an authorized state lottery or full statutory framework for commercial wagering. The statutory definitions make most organized gambling unlawful absent a clear exception under the statute Haw. Rev. Stat. gambling definitions.

Conditions that allow a social-gambling defense: the statutes recognize a narrowly defined social-gambling defense that typically requires a genuinely private setting, adult participants only, and no house rake or commercial organization. Those limits mean many online or organized offerings will not qualify for the defense and remain unlawful if they meet the statutory elements of gambling Haw. Rev. Stat. social gambling.

Quick checklist to assess whether a social-gambling exception may apply

Private setting
No house rake
Adult participants

Check state statute text for exact definitions

Practical effect: Hawaii does not operate a state lottery and has not enacted legislation to authorize sports betting as of the most recent legislative tracking. Periodic proposals have been considered, but none were enacted through 2025, so the default legal position remains prohibition subject to the narrow social-gambling exception NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

Comparing Utah and Hawaii: decision points for residents and travelers

What each state allows and prohibits: both Utah and Hawaii lack legal commercial sportsbooks, but they reach that result by different legal routes. Utah relies on an express constitutional ban on lotteries plus criminal statutes, while Hawaii relies primarily on penal-code prohibitions with a limited social-gambling defense for certain private games Utah Constitution Article VI Section 27.

How exceptions differ and why it matters: Hawaii's social-gambling defense may permit tightly circumscribed private play that meets the statutory conditions, but that defense does not authorize commercial or online sportsbook operations. Utah's constitutional bar makes it harder to create any statutory pathway for an authorized lottery or sportsbook without constitutional change Haw. Rev. Stat. social gambling.

Actionable guidance: if you are a resident or traveler, avoid using in-state commercial sportsbooks where the law does not authorize them, and consult state statutes or reputable trackers before attempting to participate in any activity that resembles wagering AGA state summaries.

What 'legal sports gambling states' means for alternatives and skill-based platforms

Sweepstakes and skill-based options: some platforms promote sweepstakes, contests, or skill-based prediction challenges as alternatives to traditional sportsbooks. Those offerings can be lawful in some states, but whether they are lawful in Utah or Hawaii depends on how each state's statutes define gambling and whether specific statutory exceptions apply NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

Funded Plays Challenges

Review challenge and verification steps

Compliance considerations for users: platforms that market themselves as skill-based or sweepstakes models are not automatically lawful simply because of their marketing. Users should compare the platform's mechanics against their state statute definitions and consult official resources rather than assuming permissibility based on advertising claims AGA state summaries. Funded Plays

Common mistakes and legal pitfalls to avoid

Assuming online access equals legality: a frequent mistake is assuming that because an online service accepts registrations from a state, it is lawful to use there. Where a state prohibits a form of gambling, being able to access a site does not change the underlying legal exposure for users or operators Utah Code gambling definitions.

Misreading social-gambling exceptions: another common pitfall is misapplying narrow statutory defenses such as Hawaii's social-gambling rule to organized, online, or commercially operated offerings. Those defenses typically require private, noncommercial conditions that organized platforms do not meet, so relying on a social-gambling defense without careful analysis is risky Haw. Rev. Stat. social gambling.

Marketing claims are not a substitute for the statute: do not accept a third-party's claim that an activity is lawful without checking the controlling state statute or a reputable tracker, because platforms sometimes describe their products in ways that do not match legal definitions or that omit relevant limitations NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

How to check current legality: a quick checklist

Authoritative sources to consult: start with the state legislature website for the controlling statutory language, check the state attorney general office for opinions, and use national trackers such as the NCSL bill tracker and AGA summaries for recent policy changes and enacted laws NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

Questions to ask before you play: ask whether the state operates a lottery, whether sports betting has been authorized and by what statute or regulation, and whether any narrow exceptions apply that could affect private or sweepstakes-style offerings AGA state summaries. our blog

Practical scenarios and examples readers may face

Visiting Utah or Hawaii: if you are traveling in either state, do not assume you can use a commercial sportsbook simply because you can access it online from your device. The state where you are physically located may determine legal exposure and enforcement risk, so verify that the activity is authorized where you are before participating NCSL sports betting bill tracking. U.S. sports betting: Where all 50 states stand

Using a sweepstakes or skill-based platform: if a platform offers a sweepstakes entry or skill-based challenge, check whether the platform's mechanics avoid the statutory elements of gambling in your jurisdiction and whether any local exceptions, such as a social-gambling defense, apply. When in doubt, pause and consult authoritative sources AGA state summaries.

Minimal 2D vector travel flatlay of a smartphone with a yellow location pin over the outline of Utah on a dark Funded Plays styled background indicating caution about legal sports gambling states

Legislative activity in recent years and what to watch

Bills considered in Hawaii and Utah's movements: Hawaii considered proposals to authorize a state lottery or sports betting between 2024 and 2025 but did not enact those measures, while Utah showed no substantive movement toward legalization during that period, according to legislative trackers and industry summaries NCSL sports betting bill tracking. Sports Betting Regulations in the US 2026

How bill tracking signals changes: regular monitoring of bill trackers and industry summaries helps detect when a state is actively considering change, which is useful because bill filing and committee action are early signals before an enacted law appears on the books AGA state summaries.

Responsible participation and next steps

Verify before you act: confirm whether the activity you plan to use is authorized where you are by checking the state law, official resources, and national trackers. Neither Utah nor Hawaii authorized sports betting as of the referenced trackers, so residents and travelers should exercise caution and confirm current rules NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

Where to find dependable information: use state legislature sites for statutory text, state attorney general opinions for interpretations, and NCSL or AGA trackers for an overview of enacted laws and active bills. If you need clarification on a platform's mechanics, ask the operator for written descriptions and compare those mechanics to the statutory definitions in your state AGA state summaries.

Conclusion: the bottom line on legal sports gambling states

Bottom line: Utah and Hawaii are the two states that broadly prohibit legalized gambling, including sports betting, according to national trackers and the controlling state law frameworks. Check authoritative sources before participating in any gambling-like activity to ensure you comply with current state rules NCSL sports betting bill tracking.

Which two states do not allow gambling?

Utah and Hawaii are the two states that broadly prohibit legalized gambling, including commercial casinos and sports wagering, as of 2026.

Does Hawaii allow any form of private gambling?

Hawaii recognizes a narrow social-gambling defense that may apply in private, noncommercial settings where no house rake exists, but this is narrowly constrained by statute.

Can I use an online sportsbook while visiting Utah or Hawaii?

Using a sportsbook while physically located in a state that does not authorize sports betting can pose legal and practical risks; check the state's statutes and reputable trackers before participating.

If you are in or traveling to Utah or Hawaii, err on the side of caution and confirm that any wagering-like activity is explicitly authorized before you participate. Use the state legislature website and national trackers to check current law, and treat platform marketing claims as a starting point rather than proof of legality. Nothing in this article is legal advice. When in doubt about a specific activity or platform, consult the controlling statute or a qualified advisor for guidance.