The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 31 : Recreation and Sports

Chapter 025 : Sports wagering

Subchapter 001 : Authority of the Department

• § 1302. Department of Liquor and Lottery; authority and duties

  (a) The Department is authorized to operate sports wagering within the State.

  (b)(1) The Commissioner shall negotiate and contract to authorize a minimum of two but not more than six operators to operate a sportsbook in Vermont through a mobile sports wagering platform.

  (2) This subsection shall not be construed to require the Department to authorize unqualified applicants to conduct a sportsbook. If the competitive bidding process fails to produce a sufficient number of qualified applicants, the Department may:

  (A) decline to authorize any operators to operate a sportsbook; or

  (B) authorize a single operator to conduct a sportsbook.

  (c) The Department, either independently or through its operator, shall provide:

  (1) Age verification measures to be undertaken to block access to and prevent sports wagers by persons under 21 years of age.

  (2) Identity verification through secure online databases or by examination of a person’s photo identification and the review of a supplemental, contemporaneous photograph of the person.

  (3) That mobile sports wagers must be initiated and received within the State of Vermont and may not be intentionally routed outside the State. The incidental intermediate routing of a mobile sports wager shall not determine the location or locations in which the wager is initiated, received, or otherwise made.

  (4) Wager limits for daily, weekly, and monthly amounts consistent with the best practices in addressing problem gambling.

  (5) A statewide voluntary self-exclusion program for players to exclude themselves from wagering for a set period of time. The Department shall establish a uniform self-exclusion program that ensures a listed player is excluded from placing wagers with any of the State’s authorized sports wagering operators and fantasy sports contest operators.

  (6) Security mechanisms to ensure the confidentiality of wagering and personal and financial information except as otherwise authorized by this chapter.

  (7) Measures to ensure that wagers are not placed by a prohibited sports bettor.

  (d) A sports governing body or college may request that the Department restrict, limit, or exclude wagering on a sporting event or series of sporting events. The Department shall review the request and seek input from the Department’s operators. If the Department determines it is appropriate, then the Department may grant the request or part of the request to prohibit unlawful activity, protect the integrity of the event, or protect public confidence in the integrity of the sports event.

  (e) The Department shall have authority to review and approve types of wagers and categories of sports events before an operator is permitted to offer the wager to the public. The Department shall approve types of wagers and categories of sports events in a reasonable time frame. Once a particular category of sports event or type of wager is approved for its first use, it may be used on multiple events without further approval. The Department may issue general approval for operators to offer wagers on enumerated categories of sports events and types of wagers.

  (f) The Department shall only approve wagers on sports events that:

  (1) have verifiable outcomes that can be generated by a reliable and independent processes; and

  (2) are conducted in conformity with applicable laws.

  (g) The Department shall include in its contract with each operator:

  (1) a provision that prohibits the use of sports wagering advertisements, logos, trademarks, or brands on products that are sold in Vermont and intended primarily for persons under 21 years of age; and

  (2) an advertising plan, which shall include strategies to limit unwanted advertising and advertising aimed at persons under 21 years of age. (Added 2023, No. 63, § 1, eff. June 14, 2023.)