Online Sports Betting Bill Passes the Vermont House, Expected to Pass Senate This Week

Online sports betting is inching closer to legalization in Vermont after House lawmakers passed a bill that would allow it.

VERMONT (May 1, 2023) — Vermonters may soon be allowed to place bets on most sporting events under a bill that received final approval in the House last week.

Currently, Vermont is the only state in the Northeast that doesn’t allow online sports betting.

The proposed legislation would permit up to six national sports betting companies to operate in the state.

And lawmakers estimate that the marketplace could raise roughly $15 million per year.

Vergennes Rep. Matthew Birong, a Democrat, said it was time for Vermont to allow sports betting.

“In the spring of 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a federal ban on the activity of wagering on live sports,” Birong said. “Since then, 36 states have legalized the activity or have passed legislation preparing to do so, with seven more considering legislation to legalize.”

The sports betting bill now before lawmakers is H.127, is reported to have been fast-tracked through the Senate since March 24, when the bill first passed through the House.

The Senate is expected to amend and pass H.127 on Thursday after a third reading of the bill was ordered Wednesday. Should it clear the Senate, the bill will return to the House for final passage.

H.127 would then go to Gov. Phil Scott, who is expected to sign it into law.

The legislation reportedly has the support of Gov. Scott.

Bill as passed by House H.127 2023

SOURCE: Vermont Public.