Is online gambling legal in Vermont?

Vermont: status at a glance

A single online product, set up by statute

Vermont's online gambling market is sports wagering only. The framework sits in Title 31 of the Vermont Statutes, Chapter 25, and Section 1302 gives the Department of Liquor and Lottery authority to operate sports wagering within the state. The section was added by 2023, Act No. 63, effective June 14, 2023.

The design differs from states that hand out dozens of permits. Under Section 1302 the Commissioner is to negotiate and contract with between two and six operators to run a sportsbook through a mobile platform. The Department does not have to authorize applicants who fail to qualify, so if competitive bidding produces too few qualified bidders it may authorize one operator or none.

Conditions written into the statute

Section 1302 spells out safeguards that the Department must provide itself or through its operators:

• Age verification that blocks anyone under 21 from placing wagers.
• Identity verification, either through secure online databases or by checking photo identification together with a supplemental, contemporaneous photograph.
• Mobile wagers that are initiated and received within Vermont and are not intentionally routed outside the state.
• Daily, weekly and monthly wager limits consistent with problem-gambling best practices.
• A uniform statewide voluntary self-exclusion program that also covers fantasy sports operators.
• Security measures that keep wagering information, personal data and financial data confidential.

The Department must approve each wager type and event category before an operator offers it. It may restrict wagering on an event when a sports governing body or a college asks and the Department finds the restriction would prevent unlawful activity or protect the integrity of the event. Operator contracts must also prohibit sports wagering advertising, logos or brands on products sold in Vermont that are aimed mainly at people under 21, and must include an advertising plan that limits unwanted advertising and advertising directed at that age group.

The lottery connection

Vermont placed sports betting inside the same department that runs the state lottery. A separate chapter of Title 31 covers the State Lottery and puts it under the Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery. That differs from states where a casino commission or a gaming board takes the job, and it fits the contract and procurement language of Section 1302.

Casino games and poker

Industry trackers record no legal online casino and no legal online poker in Vermont, and the statute we read authorizes only sports wagering. A casino-style site that targets Vermont residents is therefore not operating under a Vermont authorization. The sports betting states and online poker states lists put Vermont in context.

Sweepstakes casinos and offshore sites

We found no Vermont statute or attorney general action directed at sweepstakes casinos, and the sports wagering chapter does not mention them. The general explanation of the format is on are sweepstakes casinos legal, and the states that have passed bans are listed on sweepstakes casino banned states. A site licensed abroad holds no Vermont authorization, which is the subject of the offshore casinos page.

Where to get help

We did not read a Vermont helpline page. The national line is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), and the self-exclusion program described in Section 1302 is the state's own tool for people who want to stop betting. More resources are on the responsible gambling page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bet on sports online in Vermont?

Yes, through an operator authorized by the Department of Liquor and Lottery. You must be 21 or older, and the wager must be placed from inside Vermont.

How many sportsbooks can Vermont authorize?

Section 1302 calls for between two and six operators. It also lets the Department authorize one or none if too few bidders qualify.

Is there online casino gambling in Vermont?

No. The only online product the statute authorizes is sports wagering.

Does Vermont have a self-exclusion program?

Yes. The statute requires a uniform statewide voluntary program, and it also covers fantasy sports operators.