Vermont isn’t capable of sustaining a huge land-based gambling industry, so the number of live gambling options available to the locals isn’t all that impressive despite the rather liberal regulations. The state doesn’t have any casinos or racetracks, so if you want to try regulated gambling within the borders of the state your best bet would be to go for charitable gambling events or the state-operated lottery. Vermont doesn’t have its own iGaming industry, but local gambling enthusiasts are pretty much free to play on any offshore sites they want.
Online Gambling in Vermont
Participating in unlawful gambling in Vermont may result in a fine, but according to Vermont Statutes, this applies exclusively to the games that were hosted in a gambling house. Most experts believe that the definition of a gambling house does not cover offshore gambling sites, but this theory has never been tested in a Vermont court because the local authorities have never tried prosecuting internet gamblers.
All things considered, most iGaming enthusiasts simply assume that playing online is perfectly legal and pursue their hobby without being bothered by Vermont officials. Vermont residents have countless US-facing offshore sites to choose from, which is both a curse and a blessing. A curse, because some of those sites are really, really bad. A blessing, because some of them are absolutely brilliant. If you want to find the latter without having to waste your time with the former, simply follow a few basic rules.
If you’re looking for a poker room, try to stick to high-traffic sites as they give you access to better cash games and bigger tournaments. If you want a casino, try to go to the sites with the most diverse game selection and best promotions. If you need an online sportsbook, you should try to pick the best offer in terms of prices and the available markets. In the end, if you don’t want to do all the research yourself, you could always try one of our recommended picks instead.
Casinos in Vermont
If you want some delicious ice cream, a visit to the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury is a must. If you’re craving excellent maple syrup, any town in Vermont can hook you up – the sixth smallest state in America produces 47% of the country’s maple syrup. But if you like gambling, Vermont is not the place for you.
There are no casinos in Vermont, and the legislature’s efforts to legalize a single commercial casino introduced by former Rep. Ron Hubert in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 never got out of committee.
The state of Vermont recognizes four tribal organizations within its borders. However, none of them are in the group of 566 tribes that have received federal recognition, which means they lack the gaming privileges granted by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Section 2133 of the Vermont Criminal Code reads:
“A person who plays at cards, dice, tables or other game for money or other valuable in a common gaming or gaming house that is maintained for lucre and gain, shall be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than sixty days, or both.”
There is no ambiguity or wiggle room when it comes to social gambling.
Unsurprisingly, there are no online casinos in Vermont.
Vermont Sportsbooks & Sports betting
Sports betting is illegal in Vermont, and no one in the state government expects that to change anytime soon.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that threw the issue of legal sports betting back to the states, Governor Phil Scott stated: “That’s not the answer to Vermont’s fiscal issues.”
Danny Rachek, executive director of the Vermont Lottery, said: “I don’t know anyone who is pushing for this.”
There is no pending legislation addressing sports betting, and none is planned for the future.
Fantasy sports gambling
Daily fantasy sports is one of the few ways you can legally spend your gambling dollars in the state of Vermont. DFS companies were legalized and regulated by Section 4 of Act 70 in 2017.
The regulation requirements for DFS companies operating in Vermont are:
- Register with the Secretary of State
- Pay an annual $5,000 fee
- Player funds and operating funds must be kept separate
- Employees of DFS operators and their relatives are barred from participation
- All players must be at least 18 years old
Animal racing
Horse racing is legal in Vermont, but the last of the racecourses that hosted live racing closed years ago. There are also no off-track betting locations in the state, so if betting the ponies is your thing, this is not the state for you.
Live greyhound racing, simulcasting, and pari-mutuel wagering on greyhounds have been illegal since 1995.
Vermont Poker Games
There are no poker rooms in Vermont, and commercial poker games are illegal. Current law offers no exceptions for home poker games, but there are also no reports of any legal action being taken against home poker games that don’t take a rake.
Vermont laws do not specifically address online poker, largely because the laws on the books are believed to provide an all-encompassing ban on all gambling, regardless of the means.
Lottery
Vermont runs a lottery that has been operating since 1977.
Profits from the lottery go to fund state education. Along with scratch-off tickets and Fast Play instant win games, the following draw games are on offer:
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Gimme 5
- Megabucks
- Lucky for Life (multi-state)
- Mega Millions (multi-state)
- Powerball (multi-state)
Winning lottery tickets must be cashed in within 365 days. Winners of over $600 receive a W-2G tax form from the state.
All persons must be at least 18 years old to purchase a Vermont Lottery ticket.
Bingo
Charitable bingo is legal in Vermont, with qualified non-profit organizations able to petition the Vermont Department of Liquor Control for a bingo license. Proof of non-profit status by way of a 501C1 or 501C3 is required at the time of application.
The following regulations must be followed when hosting charitable bingo:
- No more than two games per week
- Bingo can be hosted on three consecutive days twice a year as long as those three-day bingo events are separated by at least 90 days
- $15,000 may be spent annually to pay the wages of bingo operators
- A $1,000 prize may be offered once a day, and a $5,000 prize may be offered once a month
- All players must be at least 18 years old
There are more than 50 bingo games taking place in Vermont in any given week.
Vermont Online Gambling FAQ
How Do I Get Started?
Knowing which site to join is half of the success. The other half is signing up for an account, making the first deposit and getting your account verified. The final step might take up to 48 hours, but you won’t have to undergo another verification for as long as you stay on the site.
How Do I Get My Money if I Win?
Cashing out is even easier than making a deposit. All you need to do is open the cashier menu, place a request and wait for it to be processed. This shouldn’t take more than 48 hours – and since the default payment method is almost always a wire transfer, you should receive your money within about two weeks in total.
What is the minimum age to gamble online in Vermont?
The minimum age to gamble on offshore site is 18.
How do I open an account?
Opening an account requires you to fill out a registration form. Please keep in mind that you’ll have to validate your account by providing a scanned photo ID if you want to play for real money.
Where can I open my account from?
You can open your account from anywhere in the United States – you don’t have to be physically located in Vermont.
From where can I access Vermont online gambling sites?
Vermont-friendly sites can be accessed from anywhere in the US, but playing real money games over the internet is considered a serious offense in Washington and Utah.
Where can I familiarize myself with the official regulations over gambling in Vermont?
All the relevant regulations are available in Vermont Statutes.
How do I deposit to my online gambling account?
The only way to make a deposit to most Vermont-friendly iGaming sites is to make a standard credit card payment.
How do I withdraw my winnings?
Virtually every Vermont-friendly site allows you to choose between cashing out via a wire transfer and via a check by courier.
Is my money safe?
Your money should be safe if you play on the Vermont-facing sites listed here. If you want to search for new iGaming platforms on your own, you should research every site you come upon before actually making a financial commitment in order to avoid being scammed out of your hard-earned money.
What body regulates gambling in Vermont?
Legal gambling within the borders of Vermont is controlled by Vermont Lottery.