Outside pressure: Will international deals force gambling on Utah?

Besides legal obstacles, intertwined political and religious hurdles likely would block any move toward legalization of gambling in Utah in the near future. The biggest among them is staunch opposition to gambling by the LDS Church.

The new Morning News poll shows legalizing gambling in Utah is favored by local Catholics (by a 72-38 margin), Protestants (52-48) and "not active" LDS members (65-32). But it is overwhelmingly opposed by "very active" LDS members (by a whopping 95-4 margin) and "somewhat active" LDS members (65-35).

LDS Church members far outnumber other religious groups in the state — 69 percent of those polled identified themselves as LDS — and political power comes with such big-majority numbers.

Also, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley used a long address during the church's general conference in April to focus solely on opposition to gambling.

"In all too many cases this practice, which appears innocent, can lead to an actual addiction. The church has been and is now opposed to this practice. If you have never been involved in poker games or other forms of gambling, don't start. If you are involved, then quit now while you can do so," President Hinckley said.

Yocom said opposition from the church was perhaps solely responsible for killing the 1992 referendum on pari-mutuel betting, and he said LDS Church opposition would likely kill any similar sorts of moves in the future.

Tougher laws?

While no officials foresee legalizing gambling in Utah, they do say toughening laws may be likely.

Several prosecutors and police have said some of the existing laws are murky enough that it is difficult to prosecute bingo and poker clubs. For example, bingo hall owners claim their operations are legal because bingo is free with the food they sell (even if the food is overpriced). Poker clubs contend poker is a game of skill not chance, and that it is free after players pay entry fees to compete for prizes.

For example, Mike Junk, chief prosecuting attorney for Ogden, is among those who express concerns over whether current law really outlaws bingo halls from charging $25 for dinners that would cost $2 to $3 elsewhere but then allow "free" bingo with that food for up to $1,000 in cash prizes (and many people buy extra dinners for extra chances at winning).

"At this point we have allowed that," he says. "They (customers) are presented something of value for their money besides just a bingo card; at least it is some kind of dinner, even if it is a bit overpriced. . . . If a court in some other jurisdiction makes a ruling that it is gambling, then we will follow that and enforce it."

Senate President Valentine said he and some other legislators have already started reviewing whether to clarify the law and close some of the loopholes now used by bingo and poker clubs.