If the Bill is Supported by Both Parties Involved, It Will Pass in the State

By Matt Speakman,
Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

Matt Speakman Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

A die-hard fan of the Patriots, Matt Speakman is an expert on everything related to sports betting and DFS sites. Over the years, he has proven a valuable asset for our team at online-gambling.com. You can find Speakman's professional tips and tricks in any of his many articles on the website.

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Last updated: March 25, 2023

After the US Supreme Court removed the federal law in 2018 that limited single-game sports betting to Nevada, Vermont has been debating sports betting legislation. The likelihood of a sports gambling measure passing in the state, nevertheless, has never been higher than it is right now.

House Bill 127 was introduced on January 31 by state representative Matthew Birong (D-Addison 3), and it has six Democratic and three Republican sponsors. Only bettors who are legally present in Vermont and are at least 21 years old will be able to access online sportsbooks according to the legislation from both parties.

The House Ways and Means Committee supported Birong’s sports betting bill this week. The statute was approved by the committee after it was read to them. Their job is to figure out how to raise tax income. Since then, the bill has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee for additional debate.

Advocates Argue It Will Protect Customers and Keep Casino Money in Vermont

Legislators in Vermont who favor permitting sports wagering within the state claim that there are two main advantages. Secondly, they say that a legal, regulated sports betting industry would shield customers from betting at offshore online sportsbooks that lack player protections and formal legal dispute resolution procedures. In addition, they assert that prohibiting internet sportsbooks would prevent casino money from moving to adjacent states that permit sports betting. Three states – New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts, border Vermont, and each of them allows both online and onsite sports betting. Massachusetts is the newest of the three states, launching in March 2023, after Massachusetts passed Bill, SB 2844.

Presently, legal sports betting is available in 33 states and Washington, D.C. Three more states have enacted legislation to control sports betting, although they have not yet started their businesses. Missouri, North Carolina and Kentucky are a few of the states this year that are debating sports betting legislation.

Responsible Gaming Clauses Included to Address Concerns of Gaming Detractors

Birong’s Bill 127 would allow the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery to accept applications from mobile sportsbook companies if it is approved by the state House and Senate and signed by Governor Phil Scott (R). The commission responsible for the lottery would have to provide no more than six permits for online sportsbooks, with a minimum of two. Any candidate who is approved for a license will be required to pay a $275,000 annual license fee to the state.

By incorporating responsible gaming clauses in the sports betting bill, Birong wants to appease some gaming detractors. According to House 127, 2.5% of the sports betting tax or $250,000 (whichever is higher) must go to a newly established Responsible Gambling Special Fund. Based on the law, each operator must also submit an annual responsible gaming strategy that includes information on self-exclusion programs and other helpful gaming tools for participants.

According to HB 127, a sportsbook cannot obtain an operating license until it presents a safer gambling plan that has been authorized by the Liquor and Lottery Department. Furthermore, the Liquor and Lottery Department would have to submit an annual report to the state detailing the effects of sports betting on problem gambling in Vermont. The annual evaluation will be undertaken with the Vermont Department of Mental Health.