Even for a state used to hightailing it down snowy slopes, Vermont has shown some serious acceleration in sports betting legislative efforts. It is close to becoming the second US jurisdiction to legalize sports betting in 2023 after only starting a feasibility study in December.
On Thursday, the Vermont Senate passed H 127 on its third reading and Senator Alison Clarkson has asserted that the market will go live in January.
will give pro-sports betting Governor Phil Scott five days to sign or veto the bill
Clarkson’s optimism overrode any inkling that the House won’t approve the Senate’s amendments to H 127 early next week. The Vermont legislature will adjourn May 12, so if the House concurs on the Senate’s amends, it will give pro-sports betting Governor Phil Scott five days to sign or veto the bill. If he does neither, however, H 127 will still become law.
That means just two months after a study committee gave the thumbs up to create a sports betting market, Vermont is on the brink of becoming the 38th US state to legalize it. What is unique about this bill, meanwhile, is that it would make Vermont the only state in New England to solely allow digital wagering.
Vermont also caps the number of digital betting platforms to six and has set some strict consumer protections in the process. One of these is that operators have to disclose their marketing and advertising plans in their license applications.