Vermont Sports Betting Launches In January

The drive toward the NFL playoffs should be in full swing in January and it now looks like Vermont gamblers will be able to bet on the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

The state legalized sports betting in June, but has taken a bit of time to launch. Vermont’s bettors can now expect online wagering to launch on Jan. 11, with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics already approved to begin taking action.

“I first proposed Vermont legalize sports wagering several years ago, and it’s good to see it come to fruition,” said Gov. Phil Scott®. “Vermonters and visitors alike will soon be able to access a regulated sports wagering marketplace, which will come with important consumer protections and generate revenue for the State.”

Betting Begins

Approved operators can already begin marketing in the state and pre-registering players, according to state officials. Vermont Liquor and Lottery commissioner Wendy Knight said the selection criteria focused on operators committed to problem gambling prevention, converting the illegal market to a legal market, and maximizing revenue to the state.

Vermont now becomes the 38th state to legalize some form of sports betting, along with Washington D.C. and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as well. The Green Mountain State is the last state in New England to see sports betting go live. State law allows for up to six operators.

The move to go live follows the recent launch in nearby Maine as well. After a contracted legal battle, Florida’s Seminole tribe also relaunched live and online betting in November.

The states of Oklahoma and Alabama have also recently seen efforts by legislators and other officials to open the betting windows as well.

In September, the American Gaming Association predicted a record number of Americans would wager on this year’s NFL season. The group estimated 47 million would bet on the league in some fashion.

“The sustained interest in NFL wagering reflects the growth and continued maturation of legal sports betting across the country,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said. “Consumers clearly want legal sports betting options and understand the regulated industry’s foundational commitments to responsibility.”