Vermont Sports Betting, Gambling and Online Casinos

Sweepstakes Casinos in Vermont

Sweepstakes casinos are accessible in Vermont and all of our recommended platforms are available. Vermont has no specific legislation targeting online sweepstakes platforms, and no enforcement actions have been taken. The sweepstakes model — operating under the no-purchase-necessary promotional framework — is legally distinct from the gambling activities prohibited under Vermont's criminal statutes. Vermont's sports betting legislation explicitly did not extend to casino-style games, leaving sweepstakes as the only way for Vermont residents to access online casino-style gaming.

• MegaBonanza — Our top pick for Vermont. Large slots catalogue, generous daily bonuses, and a polished free-entry model.
• Crown Coins — A well-regarded sweepstakes casino with a strong game library and smooth redemption process.
• Spree — A growing platform with a clean no-purchase entry model and solid game selection.
• WOW Vegas — Over 1,000 slots plus live dealer games. Free Sweeps Coins from day one.
• Free Spin Casino — A solid option with a wide variety of slot titles.
• American Luck — A US-focused platform with regular promotional offers.
• Fortune Coins — Popular for its large game library and strong VIP programme.

Social Casinos

• 7 Seas Casino — Free-to-play Vegas-style slots. No prizes, no purchase.
• Vegas World — Free slots, poker, and table games.
• Casino World — A broad range of free social casino games.

Tax on Sweepstakes Winnings and Sports Betting in Vermont

Vermont has a state income tax of 6% on gambling winnings, in addition to the federal 24% rate. Sweepstakes prizes above $600 generate a 1099-MISC. Sports betting winnings are similarly taxable. Declare all gambling and prize income on your Vermont state tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is online sports betting legal in Vermont?

Yes — Vermont launched online sports betting on January 11, 2024, following Governor Phil Scott's signing of Act 63 (H.127) in June 2023. Vermont's market is online-only — no retail sportsbook locations. Three operators were selected: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics (up to six licences authorised). The market generated over $100 million in handle in its first half-year, with December 2024 setting a monthly record of approximately $24 million. The Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery regulates all sports wagering. 20% tax on adjusted revenue. Minimum age 21. Prop bets on individual college athletes were prohibited in March 2024.

Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Vermont?

They operate in a legal grey area with no enforcement. Vermont has no specific legislation targeting sweepstakes platforms, and the no-purchase-necessary model falls outside Vermont's gambling statutes. All major platforms are accessible. Minimum age is typically 18 on most platforms.

Are there casinos in Vermont?

No — Vermont has no land-based casinos, no commercial casinos, and no tribal casinos. Vermont has no federally recognised Native American tribes with gaming compacts. Vermont's gambling law (13 V.S.A. § 2133) prohibits keeping a gambling house, and slot machines are specifically banned statewide. Vermont residents seeking casino gaming travel to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, casinos in upstate New York (Rivers Casino Schenectady, del Lago Resort), casinos in Massachusetts, or Lac-Leamy Casino across the border in Quebec.

Has Vermont considered repealing sports betting?

Notably, three Vermont House members introduced H.133 in February 2025, proposing to repeal both the state lottery and online sports betting. This bill emerged just weeks after Vermont celebrated its one-year sports betting anniversary. It did not advance beyond introduction — but it highlights an undercurrent of scepticism about gambling expansion in Vermont's political culture. At the same time, betting volumes have continued to grow through 2025, suggesting strong public demand despite occasional legislative pushback.

Is real-money online casino gaming ever likely in Vermont?

Unlikely in the near term. Vermont has no land-based casino industry, which typically provides the institutional and lobbying pressure that drives iGaming legalisation. The sports betting law was deliberately scoped to sports only; no bills have proposed casino gaming. Vermont lawmakers' cautious approach to gambling — combined with the small market size (~630,000 people) making it less economically attractive — means iGaming is not a near-term priority.

What responsible gambling resources are available in Vermont?

The Vermont Gambling Help website launched in July 2024 at VTGamblingHelp.org, providing a 24/7 helpline, live chat, and mental health outreach — funded by sports betting tax revenue under Act 63's responsible gaming provisions. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-522-4700, 24/7. Vermont sportsbooks are required to offer self-exclusion and deposit limits as a condition of their licences.

Vermont Gambling Laws

Vermont gambling is regulated by the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, which oversees the state lottery, sports wagering, and charitable gaming licensing. Horse racing betting through ADW platforms is also regulated at the state level.

Vermont's criminal statutes (Title 13, Chapter 56) broadly prohibit gambling houses and gambling devices. 13 V.S.A. § 2133 prohibits keeping a gambling house; § 2141 addresses gambling-related offenses. Vermont does not have gambling-specific language addressing online gaming, but the general prohibition on gambling for money has been interpreted to apply to online casino games.

Act 63 (H.127), signed June 2023, created Vermont's sports wagering framework. It authorised the Department of Liquor and Lottery to select up to six online operators; three were selected for launch. The 20% tax on adjusted gross revenue funds the state budget and the Responsible Gaming Program.

Vermont Gambling History

Vermont's gambling history is limited by the state's small size and conservative social culture. Historical records show state-managed lotteries in the late 18th century, but gambling was effectively banned for most of the period from the early 1800s through the 1950s. Pari-mutuel betting was legalised in 1959; the Green Mountain Race Track in Pownal opened in 1963, offering thoroughbred and harness racing until 1977, then greyhound racing until 1992. Vermont subsequently outlawed greyhound racing in 1995. The track facilities are no longer operational.

The Vermont Lottery was established by legislation in 1976, with the first games in 1978. Daily fantasy sports were legalised in 2017. Online sports betting — Vermont's most significant gambling expansion — was signed into law in June 2023 and launched January 11, 2024. The first legal wagers placed in Vermont were a $10 parlay, a $12.50 moneyline bet, and a player prop — all placed on NFL playoff games at midnight on January 11.

Vermont had a brief and unsuccessful experiment with electronic lottery terminals in bars in the 1980s, which were declared illegal after one year and removed — a reminder of the state's historically cautious approach to expanding gambling beyond lottery.

Responsible Gambling in Vermont

• Vermont Gambling Help — VTGamblingHelp.org; launched July 2024; 24/7 helpline and live chat; funded by sports betting tax revenue.
• National Problem Gambling Helpline — 1-800-522-4700, available 24/7 by phone, text, and live chat at ncpgambling.org.
• Vermont Lottery Self-Exclusion — covers both the state lottery and licensed online sportsbooks through the Department of Liquor and Lottery.

References

1. Vermont Lottery
2. Vermont Racing Commission
3. Online gambling — are players at risk of prosecution?
4. American Gaming Association