Utah lawmakers redefine 'fringe gambling'

SALT LAKE CITY — State lawmakers approved a bill redefining "fringe gambling" as a means to crack down on illegal gaming.

HB40 is aimed at businesses such as Internet cafes purporting to offer goods and services but are fronts for lotteries, sweepstakes and other games of chance. In some Internet cafes the computers are not even hooked up to the Internet, said Sen. Stephen Urquart, R-St. George, the Senate sponsor of the bill.

The bill, sponsored in the House by Rep. Don Ipson, R-St. George, defines what is and is not a promotional game of chance. It covers whether those who buy goods or services have an advantage to winning games over those who don't buy anything; whether options to play the game for free are available; how the game and business are marketed and whether prizes may be parlayed into additional opportunities to win.

The bill now goes to the governor for consideration.

— Dennis Romboy, Twitter: dennisromboy