Although technically gambling is illegal in Utah, you can still find a little bingo action at Southgate Dinner and Bingo. Advertised mainly as a buffet restaurant, Southgage still caters to bingo players in a big way - and this doesn't always sit well with state officials.

The place is legitimately run, for the most part. Many officials, however, think that most people go there strictly to play bingo - which is certainly a form of gambling - and not to eat. If officials really wanted to get technical, they could shut the place down - at least the bingo part - but most believe that it would cause too much of a problem. If they shut Southgage down for technically being a gambling establishment, would they also have to go after charitable bingo games? Bingo in Utah remains on shaky ground, but for now people can find a good game at Southgate.

That's interesting. We just added the Utah gambling forum and I figured we would get mainly messages about casino gaming legislation in Utah and that sort of thing. I had no idea that Bingo was even legal in Utah. I thought Utah was completely devoid of all gambling. Learn something new everyday!

Well, Bernie, technically it's not legal. Bingo would definitely fall under the no-gambling guidelines of the state. When it comes to bingo, however, officials tend to like to look the other way, since the game plays a part in supporting charities. It really is a fine line - one that everyone there walks carefully, I think. Whether bingo places have trouble or not probably depends on who is in power at the time.

I will have to look for the news story, I'm sure I saved it somewhere while i was waiting for this forum to open up.. There was recently a BIG case involving this issue, the state argued that it was gambling, and gambling was illegal, the bingo hall argued that it was free, it was dinner that patrons paid for.. the final desision came down to the fact that players COULD play without ordering dinner, therefor the bingo was truely free.. and NOT gambling, and the state just had to accept it, for now atleast ;) Average price of a meal at a 'dinner bingo hall' $25

~LadyH