States / Vermont
Vermont
- Vermont is one of the most restrictive gambling states, with no casinos, no pari-mutuel racing and no video gaming terminals.
- The only major legal gambling is the state Lottery and, since January 11, 2024, online-only mobile sports betting with three operators.
More detail
- Legal framework. Vermont is one of the most restrictive gambling states. It has no commercial or tribal casinos and no video gaming terminals.
- Sports betting. Online-only mobile sports wagering launched January 11, 2024. It runs through a competitively bid Department of Liquor and Lottery framework with 3 operators (DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics). There are no retail sportsbooks.
- Lottery. The state Lottery has operated since 1977-78.
- Racing. There is no pari-mutuel racing. It is explicitly banned by statute, and the racing chapter itself was repealed in 2019.
- Charitable gaming. Charitable gaming is limited to licensed break-open (pull-tab) tickets.
Reviewed Oct 10, 2026 · 16 sources
Legal status
LiveLegal, not launchedLimitedContestedProhibitedNot authorizedRepealedNA
| Vertical | Status | Launched | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports (online) | Live | Jan 11, 2024 | Competitive | Enacted as 2023, No. 63, effective June 14, 2023. Launched Jan. 11, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. ET with 3 operators selected via competitive bid: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook. Statute allows 2-6 operators (31 V.S.A. §1302(b)(1)); minimum age 21. 31 V.S.A. ch. 25 (§§ 1301-1341a) [1],[2] |
| Sports (retail) | Not authorized | Act 63 (2023) authorizes only online/mobile sports wagering; no retail sportsbook licensing category exists.[1],[3] | ||
| Online casino | Not authorized | No statute authorizes online casino games; 13 V.S.A. ch. 51 general gambling/lottery prohibitions apply outside the Lottery, sports wagering, and licensed charitable break-open-ticket carve-outs.[4] | ||
| Online poker | Not authorized | No standalone online poker statute; general prohibition under 13 V.S.A. ch. 51 applies.[4] | ||
| Commercial casinos | Not authorized | Vermont has no commercial casino licensing statute; 13 V.S.A. §§2133-2139 criminalize keeping a gaming house or gambling instruments.[4] | ||
| Tribal casinos | Not authorized | No federally recognized tribe operates Class III gaming in Vermont (the Elnu and other Abenaki bands recognized by the state are not federally recognized); no tribal gaming compact exists.[4] | ||
| Lottery | Live | Oct 1, 1977 | Monopoly State | Authorized by a 1976 referendum and 1977 Act No. 82; began fiscal operations Oct. 1977; first game (Green Mountain Game) launched Feb. 1978. "Pick 3," the Lottery's first daily "online" (terminal-based) game, launched Nov. 10, 1980. Lottery statute specifically bars any lottery game whose outcome depends on an athletic contest (31 V.S.A. §651(1)). 31 V.S.A. ch. 14 [5],[6] |
| iLottery | Not authorized | The Vermont Lottery does not currently sell tickets, subscriptions, or e-instants online. Classified `not_authorized` (not `legal_prelaunch`) because no bill has been enacted; see the legislation.pending_summary fact for the two committee-stage bills.[7],[8] | ||
| Daily fantasy | Live | Competitive | Fantasy sports contest operators must register with the state (§1333) and meet consumer- protection and fair-advertising requirements (§§1331-1332); the Attorney General enforces (§1334). Enacted alongside the 2023 sports wagering law (Act 63). 31 V.S.A. §§1330-1334 [1] | |
| VGTs / VLTs | Not authorized | No video gaming terminal statute; sale, lease, rental, or possession of gambling machines is criminalized under 13 V.S.A. §§2135-2136.[4] | ||
| Historical horse racing | Not authorized | No statute authorizes historic horse racing terminals; would fall under the general pari-mutuel ban and gambling-machine prohibition.[9] | ||
| Sweepstakes casinos | Not authorized | No sweepstakes-casino-specific statute or enforcement action identified. 13 V.S.A. §2143b generally permits sweepstakes/contests of chance provided entrants are not required to risk money or other valuables; whether dual-currency sweepstakes casinos (which sell "gold coins" redeemable alongside free "sweeps coins") fit this exception has not been tested by a Vermont court or the AG. Unlike Indiana or Maine (LD 2007, signed Apr. 2026), no Vermont bill naming sweepstakes casinos was identified. Treated as not_authorized: unaddressed gray-market presence per the research guide, rather than operational or contested, since no conflicting official Vermont position was identified (only an untested statutory exception).[10] | ||
| Prediction markets | Not authorized | Corrected from "unknown" to "not_authorized" per the national prediction-markets rule: no Vermont AG action, statute, or litigation regarding CFTC-registered event-contract platforms (Kalshi, Polymarket) identified this session, despite a multi-state 2025-2026 wave of such actions elsewhere (MA, NY, NV, NJ, OH, and others). Contracts are available to Vermont residents statewide under claimed CFTC/federal preemption, with no Vermont regulator, AG, or court action against them as of this file's as_of date; absent such action, the activity would fall under the general gambling/lottery prohibitions of 13 V.S.A. ch. 51. Vermont sits in the 2nd Circuit (with NY and CT); no 2nd Circuit ruling on prediction-market preemption has been identified, so no binding circuit precedent applies here. The 3rd Cir. ruling for Kalshi (NJ, 2026-04-06) and the 6th Cir. ruling against Kalshi (decided 2026-09-25) do not bind Vermont.[4] | ||
| Skill games | Not authorized | No statute authorizes unregulated skill-game terminals; gambling-machine sale/lease/possession is prohibited under 13 V.S.A. §§2135-2136 absent a specific license.[4] | ||
| Card rooms | Not authorized | No card-room/poker-room licensing category; general gambling-house prohibition (13 V.S.A. §2133) applies.[4] | ||
| Lottery couriers | Not authorized | Jackpocket's own current state-availability lists (it operates as a DraftKings subsidiary) name Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, D.C., and West Virginia; Vermont is not among them, and no other courier presence, authorization, or ban was identified. No evidence of courier presence in Vermont as of this research.[11] | ||
| Pick'em fantasy | Not authorized | Vermont's DFS statute (31 V.S.A. §§1330-1334) does not name or separately address player-vs-house "pick'em" contests, and no Vermont AG opinion or enforcement action on pick'em was identified this session (unlike Virginia's 2024 AG opinion treating pick'em as sports betting, or Massachusetts's cease-and-desist letters). A low-confidence industry affiliate guide (not an official source) claims PrizePicks and Underdog both offer pick'em in Vermont; this was not independently verified. Marked limited (not operational) given the unresolved operator-level legal status under the classic-DFS statute and the absence of any Vermont-specific confirmation of pick'em's authorization.[1] | ||
| Pari-mutuel | Prohibited | Explicitly banned by statute - "A person shall not hold, conduct, operate, or simulcast a pari-mutuel dog race or pari-mutuel horse race" for public exhibition (13 V.S.A. §2153, amended 2019). Vermont's horse-racing licensing chapter (31 V.S.A. ch. 13, §§601-642) was separately and entirely repealed by 2019, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), §15. 13 V.S.A. §2153 [9],[12] | ||
| Advance deposit wagering | Not authorized | No ADW licensing framework exists given the pari-mutuel racing ban.[9] | ||
| Charitable gaming | Live | Monopoly State | Limited to licensed break-open ("pickle card"/jar) tickets. Manufacturers ($3,000/yr) and distributors ($2,000/yr) are licensed by the Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery; only qualifying nonprofits may purchase and resell tickets, and net proceeds must go to charitable, religious, educational, or civic purposes. 13 V.S.A. §2143 separately addresses nonprofit gaming exceptions in the criminal code. 31 V.S.A. ch. 23 (§§1201-1208) [13] | |
| Esports betting | Live | Jan 11, 2024 | Competitive | Vermont's sports-wagering catalog (effective with the Jan. 11, 2024 launch of DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics) includes 24 sanctioned esports events (e.g., World of Warcraft Arena World Championship, Madden Championship Series, FIFA Global Series, Overwatch World Cup, League of Legends, NBA 2K League), available to all licensed operators under 31 V.S.A. ch. 25 and the Dept. of Liquor and Lottery's Sports Wagering Procedures. 31 V.S.A. ch. 25; State of Vermont Sports Wagering Procedures [14] |
| Social casino | Live | Free-to-play, no-cash-prize social casino apps fall outside 13 V.S.A. ch. 51's gambling definition and are unregulated.[4] |
Sports betting in Vermont: status, tax rate, sportsbooks and bills →
Tax rates
| Vertical | Channel | Rate | Base | Tier | Promos deductible | Since | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily fantasy | online | No revenue/GGR tax on DFS. 31 V.S.A. § 1333 requires only a flat $5,000.00 annual registration fee per operator, due on or before October 15 each year the operator offers contests to Vermont consumers; the statute imposes no percentage-of-revenue tax. | OTHER | No | Jul 1, 2023 | 31 V.S.A. § 1333 Effective date approximates the 2023 Act 63 fantasy-sports-registration framework's general effective date; the exact first registration-fee due date was not independently confirmed. [16] | |
| Sports (online) | online | 20% Statutory floor only - operator revenue-share bids 'shall not be less than 20 percent of adjusted gross sports wagering revenue' (31 V.S.A. §1320(d)); actual contracted rates per operator not independently re-verified this session. | AGR | Jan 11, 2024 | 31 V.S.A. §1320(d)[1] |
Rules and requirements
Casinos
Legislation
- Summary of significant pending gambling legislation this session
- Two bills pending in the 2026 session: S.318 ("An act relating to casino gaming," Sen. Christopher Mattos, read 1st time and referred to Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Jan. 27, 2026) would have the Board of Liquor and Lottery issue licenses for up to 2 casinos and adopt implementing rules; no committee hearings were on record as of the research conducted. Separately, companion bills S.268 (Sen. Thomas Chittenden, read 1st time Jan. 16, 2026, referred to Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, no committee meeting history found) and H.669 (Rep. Michael Marcotte et al., referred to House Government Operations and Military Affairs, heard in committee Feb. 4, 2026 with testimony from Liquor and Lottery Commissioner Wendy Knight) would authorize internet lottery sales (see ilottery vertical, classified not_authorized). None of these bills were confirmed enacted as of this research pass (Oct. 2026).[15],[7]
License fees
- Sports wagering license fee(s) and term
- $550,000 operator fee (31 V.S.A. §1320(c))[1]
Lottery
- Date lottery began sales
- 1977-10-01[5]
Minimum age
- Minimum age to place a sports wager
- 21[1]
Notes
- Free-text notes that fit no other field
- 13 V.S.A. §651(1) (lottery rules) bars any state lottery game whose outcome depends on an athletic contest, mirroring the separation between the Lottery and the newer Chapter 25 sports-wagering regime.[6]
Sports betting rules
- Statutory cap on number of online sportsbook licenses/skins (omit if uncapped)
- 6Statute sets a floor of 2 and ceiling of 6 licensed operators (31 V.S.A. §1302(b)(1)).[1]
- Online sports wagering available statewide (not tethered to premises)
- Yes[1]
- Number of online sportsbooks live as of as_of date
- 3DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook were the 3 operators that launched Jan. 11, 2024; current count not re-verified as of Oct. 2026.[2]
Tax revenue
- Where gaming tax revenue goes (education fund
- Sports wagering revenue flows to the Sports Wagering Enterprise Fund (31 V.S.A. §1304, §1341); the Department of Mental Health administers a Problem Gambling Program (§1341a) funded from it.[1]
Revenue
Tax revenueMonthly · Sports (online)
Monthly3-month average
$500K$1.0M$1.5M202420252026Jan 2024 $1.1M$464K
| Vertical | Measure | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports (online) | GGR | $15.5M | $22.8M | $19.9M |
| Sports (online) | Handle | $146M | $235M | $199M |
| Sports (online) | Tax paid | $4.9M | $7.3M | $6.3M |
Sports (online)Monthly GGR
Monthly3-month average
$2.0M$4.0M202420252026Jan 2024 $3.6M$1.5M
What these figures mean
- Sports (online): GGR is the report's adjusted gross sports wagering revenue, after payouts, voids and promotional deductions. Tax paid is the printed Vermont revenue share (the state's share under a lottery-run model, not a tax).
Revenue report sources (32)
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
- VT DLL Sports Wagering Summary Report
Licensed operators
| Operator | Brand | Vertical | License | Status | Launched | Partner / venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | DraftKings Sportsbook (Vermont) | Sports (online) | Competitively bid online sports-wagering operator (31 V.S.A. ch. 25) | active | Jan 11, 2024 | Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery[2] |
| Fanatics Betting and Gaming | Fanatics Sportsbook (Vermont) | Sports (online) | Competitively bid online sports-wagering operator (31 V.S.A. ch. 25) | active | Jan 11, 2024 | Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery[2] |
| FanDuel | FanDuel Sportsbook (Vermont) | Sports (online) | Competitively bid online sports-wagering operator (31 V.S.A. ch. 25) | active | Jan 11, 2024 | Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery[2] |
Economy
- Adults 21 and over
- 506K (2024; 647K residents)
- Gambling revenue per adult
- $45 in 2025 · 26th of 27 states with a full year of reports$22.8M kept by operators from sports (online), divided by adults 21 and over. Tribal casinos and the lottery are not included.
- Gambling taxes collected
- $6.1M in FY2025 · 0.12% of all state taxes
- Gambling jobs
- 28 in 2024 · $100,302 average annual pay
Gambling taxes collectedState fiscal years
$2.5M$5.0M$7.5MFY2013FY2016FY2019FY2022FY2025$6.1M
Census Bureau tax collections on amusements and pari-mutuel wagering. Most states book casino, sports betting and video gaming taxes here; amusement taxes can also include admissions taxes unrelated to gambling.
Gambling jobsAnnual average
1020302023202428
Casinos, casino hotels, card rooms, bingo halls, off-track betting and slot-route operators, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Racetracks are not included. Jobs at tribal casinos are counted as government jobs.
Taxes by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Amusement taxes | Pari-mutuel taxes | Share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $17.0K | $6.1M | 0.12% |
| FY2024 | $20.0K | $3.2M | 0.07% |
| FY2023 | $21.0K | $0 | 0.00% |
| FY2022 | $21.0K | — | 0.00% |
| FY2021 | $17.0K | — | 0.00% |
| FY2020 | $24.0K | — | 0.00% |
| FY2019 | $23.0K | — | 0.00% |
| FY2018 | $23.0K | — | 0.00% |
| FY2017 | $26.0K | — | 0.00% |
| FY2016 | $26.0K | — | 0.00% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, States (NST-EST2025-ALLDATA); U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections (STC): Historical Dataset; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 7132 (Gambling industries)
Timeline
- Jan 27, 2026 · Other · Commercial casinosS.318, which would authorize the Board of Liquor and Lottery to license up to 2 casinos, is read a first time and referred to the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee[15]
- Jan 16, 2026 · Other · iLotteryS.268, authorizing internet lottery sales, is read a first time and referred to the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee[7]
- Jan 11, 2024 · Launched · Sports (online)Mobile sports wagering launches with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook[2]
- Jun 14, 2023 · Legalized · Sports (online)Governor signs Act 63, authorizing online sports wagering and fantasy sports contests[1]2023, No. 63
- Jan 1, 2019 · Repealed · Pari-mutuelVermont repeals its horse-racing licensing chapter (31 V.S.A. ch. 13) in its entirety[12]2019, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), §15
- Oct 1, 1977 · Launched · LotteryVermont Lottery begins fiscal operations under 1977 Act No. 82[5]
- Jan 1, 1976 · Ballot Measure · LotteryVermont voters approve a referendum authorizing a state lottery[5]
Regulators
- Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery — Lottery, iLottery, Sports (online), Daily fantasy, Charitable gaming
Sources
- 31 V.S.A. Chapter 25 - Sports Wagering · Vermont General Assembly (Legislative Council, Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“shall not be less than 20 percent of adjusted gross sports wagering revenue”
- Vermont Sports Betting · SportsHandle · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Vermont sports betting goes live at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday”
- Sports betting in the United States · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Legalized on April 30, 2019; allows only online betting.”
- 13 V.S.A. Chapter 51 - Gambling and Lotteries (table of sections) · Vermont General Assembly (Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Vermont Lottery · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- 31 V.S.A. §651 - Powers and duties of Board of Liquor and Lottery · Vermont General Assembly (Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“no lottery shall be conducted that depends upon the outcome of an athletic contest”
- Vermont S.268 (2026) Bill Status - An act relating to internet lottery sales · Vermont General Assembly · bill · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs”
- Vermont lawmakers consider online lottery bill · WCAX · press · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Modernizing the Vermont Lottery by offering online purchases meets players where they are in the marketplace.”
- 13 V.S.A. §2153 - Prohibition on dog and horse race betting · Vermont General Assembly (Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“A person shall not hold, conduct, operate, or simulcast a pari-mutuel dog race or pari-mutuel horse race”
- 13 V.S.A. §2143b - Contests and sweepstakes · Vermont General Assembly (Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“shall not be considered a venture of money or other valuable things”
- Jackpocket state-availability coverage (DraftKings Network) · DKNetwork (DraftKings) · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- 31 V.S.A. Chapter 13 - Horse Racing (repealed) · Vermont General Assembly (Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Repealed. 2019, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 15.”
- 31 V.S.A. Chapter 23 - Games of Chance · Vermont General Assembly (Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Vermont Releases Sports Betting Catalog Ahead of Jan. 11 Launch · Covers.com · press · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Vermont S.318 (2026) Bill Status - An act relating to casino gaming · Vermont General Assembly · bill · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs”
- 31 V.S.A. § 1333 — Fantasy sports contests; registration · Vermont General Assembly (Legislative Council, Vermont Statutes Online) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“an annual registration fee in the amount of $5,000.00”