Vermont Sports Betting: The Best VT Sports Betting Sites in 2023

Written by: Richard Janvrin|✅Fact Checked by: Michael Savio

Located in New England and bordering New Hampshire, New York, and Massachusetts, Vermont is now one of the latest states to pass online sports betting legislation.

The first steps towards sports betting coming to Vermont came in 2019, but it failed to gain traction in the state legislator. Now, almost four years later, we are just a few months from the industry going live in the Green Mountain State.

Though it’s not live yet, we still have plenty of information to work with.

Below, USALegalBetting.com will explain how sports betting became legal, the latest news, language within the law, potential sites we can expect to launch, and when it will become available.

Yes, sports betting is legal in Vermont. It became official on June 15, 2023, when Governor Phil Scott signed House Bill 127, making Vermont the third state of the year and 38th nationwide to legalize sports betting.

While it’s legal, it hasn’t launched yet. The predicted launch date is during the NFL Playoffs in January 2024, but it could also launch sooner than that, as rules have been approved for sports betting in the state.

📰 September 15, 2023: BetMGM, FanDuel, Fanatics, DraftKings, and Penn all submit applications for sports betting licenses.

📰 July 24, 2023: Vermont’s Department of Liquor and Lottery (the governing body overseeing sports betting) requested sportsbook proposals to come in. 

📰 July 18, 2023: Rules for sports betting have been approved, and a launch before the end of the year is possible.  

📰 June 27, 2023: A draft of the rules is completed as regulators push for a quicker launch.  

📰 June 14, 2023: Following some amendments to House Bill 127, Governor Phil Scott signs it into law.  

📰 May 4, 2023: H127 passes in the Senate pending approval of amendments by the House.  

📰 May 2, 2023: H127 is on the Senate agenda for a final vote.  

📰 March 24, 2023: H127 cleared a legislative chamber for the first time. It passed in the House and was backed by the governor. It then headed off to the Senate.  

📰 February 2023: H127, introduced by Rep. Matthew Birong, begins moving through the statehouse.  

📰 June 8, 2021: Vermont passes H313. This includes an amendment to alcohol beverage laws and a study on sports betting.  

📰 February 11, 2021: Sen. Dick Spears introduced Senate Bill 77, which would bring sports betting to the state, but it didn’t go beyond the Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs.

After a few attempts, H127 became the bill that brought sports betting to Vermont. Considering PASPA was overturned in May 2018 and the first sport betting bills were introduced in 2019, the speed at which H127 became a reality is impressive. Rep. Matthew Birong introduced it in February 2023, and by June 15, the governor signed it into law.

In March 2023, H127 passed in the House and has been backed by the governor since. It passed in the Senate on May 4, 2023, but some amendments were required.

If we rewind a bit, we can thank Senate Bill 59 for the legalization. This bill created a sports betting study committee, which helped lay out the groundwork for H127, which probably had much to do with its fast passage through the proper legislative channels.

The amendments included technical changes, such as removing and revising sentences.

Now that sports betting is legal in Vermont, what does the language of H127 look like?

Sports betting in Vermont is to be overseen by the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery. Per the bill, this governing body can determine the tax rate case-by-case with operators instead of a fixed number.

The bill also permits online-only betting, joining Tennessee and Wyoming in rejecting retail betting.

For online sports betting in Vermont to operate, there must be at least two, but no more than six, online sports betting apps. There are no retail locations allowed to offer sports betting.

The mobile operators in the state will be charged an annual licensing fee. The first year costs $550,000, but the rate beyond that hasn’t been declared yet.

Vermont residents will have their winnings taxed at a 6% rate for in-state players, while out-of-state bettors must be 7.25%.

There are clauses related to Responsible Gaming, too—no less than $250,000 annually will be put into the Responsible Gaming Special Fund.

College sports betting is allowed in Vermont, though in-state teams are prohibited unless part of a tournament.

Vermont's required age to wager is just 18 years old, but online sportsbooks have the right to enforce a 21+ policy. We saw this recently in Kentucky. They made the legal age 18, but Caesars is enforcing a 21+ policy.

Sports gambling in Vermont will be overseen by the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery. It will determine tax rates for individual bookmakers instead of a flat rate.

Yes. Sports betting of all kinds will be strictly done on mobile apps. Per the bill, there must be at least two mobile betting apps, but it cannot exceed six.

There will be no retail sports betting in Vermont.

Vermont has received five applications from operators looking to launch online sportsbooks in the state. That group includes BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and Penn Entertainment (ESPN Bet). 

Below is a breakdown of all five applicants, including the sportsbook promos they offer.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings is an online sportsbook, casino, and daily fantasy sports platform founded in bordering Massachusetts. It became popular in the early 2010s due to its DFS contests, and today, it’s one of the most well-known online sportsbooks operating in 23 states and counting . It offers new players $200 in bonus bets when you wager just $5, and it has the most extensive offering of player prop bets across any online sportsbook.

FanDuel Sportsbook

Like DraftKings, FanDuel became popular in the early 2010s due to daily fantasy sports. Today, after a merger, FanDuel is one of the most popular online sportsbooks, frequently offering promotions aligned with top sports personalities, such as Pat McAfee. New players will also get $200 in bonus bets when they wager $5, and there’s a comprehensive “Betting 101” guide to help you navigate all things sports betting. Check out all the states where FanDuel sportsbook is legal. 

Fanatics Sportsbook

Fanatics launched they new online sportsbook this year and now they have their sites set on Vermont. The sportsbook has received rave reviews, with a top-notch platform and one of the best rewards programs in the industry. Fanatics is giving new players up to $200 in bonus bets when the sign up and wager ar least $10. Check out all the states where Fanatics Sportsbook is legal.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Expected to be one of the top dogs in Maine, BetMGM might also stop by Vermont and get some market share there. BetMGM is available in 20+ states and offers new players up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses. It’s also the go-to place if you enjoy parlay betting, as there are several pre-build Same Game Parlay options and Easy Parlay, a page dedicated to streamlining the parlay construction process. Check out all the states where BetMGM Sportsbook is legal. 

ESPN Bet Sportsbook (Penn Entertainment)

Penn Entertainment is the fifth operator to apply for a license in the Green Mountain State. They operated Barstool Sportsbook, and switched to ESPN Bet on November 14. They will have access to 17 states when the new sportsbook goes online, and Vermont is next on their list. We have yet to see the ESPN Bet platform, but it is expected to quikcly become one of the top sportsbooks in the industry.

With Vermont becoming the latest New England state to offer sports betting, let’s compare it to the nearby legal sports betting states to see how they all compare.  

Connecticut Sports Betting

Connecticut sports betting has been available since October 2019, but there are just two online sportsbooks in the state today after PlaySugarHouse and the state lottery ended their partnership. Vermont will have no less than two but will have up to six. Vermont appears slated to be more involved in sports betting than Connecticut, which houses FanDuel and DraftKings.    

Maine Sports Betting

Like Vermont, Maine sports betting hasn’t launched. There’s been some controversy with regulator Milton Champion, slowing the process. That and revenue splits are causing many top online sportsbooks to not lay down roots there, but BetMGM is ready to enter. The launch date in Maine is unknown, but they’re pushing for a November launch with temporary licenses.  

Massachusetts Sports Betting

Launching online in March 2023, Massachusetts sports betting has been a great success. There are eight online sportsbooks, two more than Vermont can ever have. The tax rate is 10%, and the law allows up to 15 licenses.  

New Hampshire Sports Betting

New Hampshire sports betting is available but has a monopoly-like deal with DraftKings. It has three retail betting locations, and the tax rate is 51%.  

Rhode Island Sports Betting

Like New Hampshire, Rhode Island sports betting is also limited to just one online sportsbook. This one is run by the state lottery in collaboration with William Hill and IGT. The lone sportsbook here is Sportsbook Rhode Island.

No. Online casinos aren’t legal in Vermont. There aren’t any commercial or tribal casinos in the state either.