Vermont is not a sports-centric state. They have no teams in any professional or collegiate leagues. Not only that, but Vermont doesn’t really have a promising gambling foundation to build any sports betting hopes in the state.
Vermont Sports Betting News
*Vermont doesn’t look to be changing its stance on sports wagering, so bettors will have to work with the above bookmakers if they want to access the odds online. This means other prominent US-based sports betting providers like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, Fox Bet, and Unibet are out of reach.
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Can I bet on sports in Vermont? Vermont Sports Betting Legalization Timeline Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in VermontHowever, it seems that the interest is starting to peak. On March 24, 2020, The Vermont Senate Committee approved a Senate bill that calls for a committee to study the potential sports betting will have on the economy in Vermont. While this isn’t really a green light, it’s a step in the right direction.
The committee would be tasked with studying how to tax and regulate legal sports betting in the state, and suggests that legalization would reel in one to four billion in tax revenue - so they would have plenty to discuss.
The committee would need to consist of the state Attorney General, Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery, Commissioner of Taxes, The Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, two members of the Senate, and two members of the House.
Governor Phil Scott supports the idea of sports betting in Vermont, and hopes that they can introduce mobile betting to the state in the near future, as there are no casinos or venues they are able to wager at.
There are no casinos in Vermont. If residents want to gamble on just about anything, they need to pack an overnight bag and head out of state - Saratoga, New York is probably the closest option. While commercial casinos are illegal in the state, tribal casinos are actually legal. Vermont has no federally recognized tribes to open a casino, so it’s unlikely that a casino might pop up in the state.
Since Vermont is bordered by legal sports betting, as New Hampshire and New York have both taken action already. Massachusetts is the only other state nearby that doesn’t have legal sports betting, but it’s been on the docket for the past few years - it’s just a matter of time.
Daily Fantasy sports betting is surprisingly legal in Vermont. Just last year, a bill was approved to allow in the participation and operation of DFS. About a dozen states legalized DFS as they recognized it as a game of skill, rather than chance and shockingly, Vermont was one of them.
Check out where you can legally place a bet in the United States.
Can I bet on sports in Vermont?
No, legally there is no avenue that you can take to bet on sports in the state of Vermont. Many states allow online gambling even, to combat the lack of gambling available in their state, but Vermont actually created laws that online gambling is forbidden.
Though, this could be an ‘at your own risk’ situation. There is nothing preventing Vermont residents from signing up at offshore or international sportsbooks, but we can’t say what the charges will be if one were to get caught. It would be hard to regulate for the state, but we can’t put it past the federal authorities.
It could be likely that the state would be more lax with regulating offshore online sportsbooks as they are about to possibly legalize it in 2021.
Vermont Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
2018-2019: Opportunities but Little Progress
In 2018, the Supreme Court's PASPA decision made it possible for Vermont to legalize and tax sports betting in the state. That same year, there was no significant effort o legalize sports betting.
However, in 2019, we saw our first big push. Representative Thomas Burditt introduced HB 484. It would have opened up online and retail betting across the state, delegating regulatory authority to the Board of Liquor and Lottery. This bill was barely touched on during the session.
2020: A Study Could Provide Motivation
Because the direct route to legalization proved so difficult, proponents have come up with a creative route. Perhaps those dragging their feet need to have some further evidence to convince them.
Senator Michael Sirotkin introduced S 59. This bill was approved by the Senate and would create a commission to study the possibility of legalizing sports betting in the state. We will see if it passes the House, and then we will have to wait for the results of its study.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in Vermont
If you are indeed looking to sign up at an online sportsbook, we have a list of online sportsbook reviews that take some of the guesswork out of finding a sportsbook. Check out our sportsbook reviews to find a sportsbook that meets your individual needs and sign up at your discretion.
Ensure you do plenty of research and select a sportsbook that has a sterling reputation if you are intending to bet on sports from Vermont.
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