Vermont Governor Signs Online Sports Betting Bill Into Law

It was recently announced that Republican Gov. Phil Scott officially signed into law H.127 bill, making Vermont another US state to legalize online sports wagering. In addition, half of the US states have already legalized online sports wagering.

A big supporter of the H.127 bill:

One of the main supporters of the aforementioned legislation was Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who signed the bill into law as mentioned above, after many delays in the Democratic-controlled Legislature that lasted for years. However, the bill became law only after many hours of legislative study and debate.

In this regard, in a written statement Wednesday afternoon, Scott said: “I first proposed Vermont legalize sports betting several years ago and I’m happy the Legislature has come to an agreement, as well. We know many Vermonters already participate in the marketplace and bringing it above board provides important resources and consumer protections.”

6 major operators will offer mobile sports wagering in Vermont:

Under the new law, the big 6 operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel will be permitted to offer mobile sports wagering platforms in Vermont. However, they will be overseen by the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery, and the program is projected to go into effect in January 2024.

And that’s not all; as they will have to provide the state with a responsible gaming plan that involves information on publishing problem gambling related materials, such as  resources that will be available to bettors who are concerned about problem gambling, house-imposed player limits and self-exclusion programs.

Supporters and opponents of the bill:

Legalization advocates claimed that in the digital age, Vermonters are already gambling illegally in online circles, a kind of black market of sorts that leaves them exposed to exploitation and scams. Furthermore, they also claimed that “as long as Vermonters participated in fraudulent online marketplaces, the state was missing out on potential revenue that a state-regulated program could provide.”

However, opponents raised the question of whether the state should sanction a contemporary form of gambling that is possibly more addictive than traditional methods and certainly more attractive to young people, as witnesses testified to lawmakers this year. To appease opponents, lawmakers placed in H.127 “a limit on platform’s ability to advertise to Vermonters under 21 year-old who, legally, are barred from sports wagering.” On that note, Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery Wendy Knight told lawmakers that “she is confident in her department’s ability to keep platforms’ advertising strategies in check.”

Additionally, state fiscal analysts do not expect large income from the new program. They calculate that the state would have about $2 million in fiscal year 2024, and ultimately about $10 million a year.