Online Casinos for players from Vermont in 2026

Introduction

Known as the Green Mountain State since its name comes from two French words - vert for green and mont for mountain - Vermont's nickname honors an army known as the Green Mountain Boys, first created to protect the state from New York and later reconstituted to serve in the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.

Its name is no surprise since the majority of the state is covered in forests and mountains, while the most well-known range - the Green Mountains - is located in the state's center.

More precisely, 78% of forests provide nearly 1.5 billion dollars worth of revenue for Vermont yearly!

Also known as one of the first states to outlaw slavery, Vermont is the second smallest state in the US, right after Wyoming, but its residents aren't immune to playing games and betting on sports!

As one of the six New England states, Vermont is bordered by Canada, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York, all of which boast more versatility in gambling laws.

While Vermont has no major league sports teams, it borders New York and Massachusetts, which have high-profile teams like the New York Yankees and New England Patriots. As a result, it's an excellent place to bet on sports.

Regarding gambling laws…

…although the state bans most forms of gambling, there are a few notable exceptions – the most important of which is the legalization of sports betting in 2024.

The other exceptions include charity organizations, state lottery, charity bingo and raffles, daily fantasy sports, and betting on horse races!

However, while Vermont allows pari-mutuel wagering, there are no racetracks where people can do that. In addition, online casinos or poker rooms are forbidden.

Thousands of Vermont residents choose to travel to casinos in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, or across the Canadian border to enjoy playing table games, poker, or slots since there are no land-based casinos in the Green Mountain state.

Since betting is based on your phone's location, Vermonters can place bets if they are physically in a state that allows betting.

History of Gambling in Vermont

The history of gambling in Vermont is relatively short and uninteresting, so the most recent attempt to legalize sports betting is one of a few luckily successful attempts.

Until 2018, online betting was prohibited in every state except Nevada. Then, the US Supreme Court overturned the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and opened the opportunity for each state to adopt its own gambling legislation.

However, even before that, Vermont had made several attempts to legalize different kinds of online gambling, starting in 1960 when the state legalized horse racing betting and subsequently launched the Vermont Lottery in 1976, while the first ticket was sold two years later.

Since 1998, all profits have gone to the Vermont Education Fund instead of the state's general fund, as they had for the previous twenty years.

However, horse racing, though still available today, has not been possible anywhere in Vermont since 1992 when the Green Mountain Race Track closed.

It is interesting to note that there has never been or is no intention of exploring the possibility of having a Native American tribe or brick-and-mortar casino in Vermont.

One unsuccessful attempt at legalization occurred in 2013 when Bill H-0781 was proposed, aiming to provide extra funding for the operations of the Vermont State Government.

The bill required that the Vermont Lottery Commission study the possibility of selling lottery tickets online, as has been done in some neighboring states.

It did not, however, gain enough votes to become law.

In 2017, State lawmakers approved a bill to legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports.

Finally, in 2023, Gov. Phil Scott took action and signed the legislation, Bill H127, which soon passed the House and the Senate and allowed sports gambling websites! The first online sportsbooks launched on Jan. 11, 2024, and six online gambling sites are allowed in the state.

According to Vermont's Department of Liquor and Lottery, sports bettors can wager on over 70 sports leagues but not on minor league baseball, home to Vermont Lake Monsters, the state's only professional team.

Current State of Gambling and Available Gaming Options in Vermont

After online sports betting was legalized, state officials projected revenues would be about $1.2 million for the first six months; however, they came in at $3.5 million.

Still, while the state hasn't banned all gambling activities, like Utah or Hawaii, the legal gambling in the Green Mountain state is relatively limited, with no land-based casinos or legal online options available.

As we have already mentioned, although horse gambling is allowed, there are no horse racing tracks in the state. Still, players can place bets on offshore sites or US-licensed websites.

Speaking of online casinos, Vermont does not appear to plan to expand its online gaming market soon.

However, fans can use social casinos and sweepstakes to enjoy games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker.

Sweepstakes casinos

With online gambling laws still unclear or restrictive in a lot of states, players are looking for legal ways to enjoy casino-style games. Sweepstakes casinos fill that gap by offering games that look and feel just like real-money gambling but without technically being classified as gambling.

The big draw is that you don’t have to deposit money to play. These sites give out virtual currency—some just for signing up, others through daily rewards or mail-in entries—so they stay within legal limits. But the part that gets people excited is that sweepstakes coins can be redeemed for real cash if you win enough. That little loophole has made them a go-to option for players in states where traditional online casinos aren’t legal.

In Vermont, sweepstakes are legal as long as they follow the standard rule: no purchase necessary to enter. This means that any sweepstakes must offer a free way to participate; otherwise, it could be considered illegal gambling under state law.

Key Vermont Sweepstakes Law:

• Vermont law specifically states that participants cannot be required to pay to enter a sweepstakes. Even mailing an entry with a stamp is acceptable and does not count as a "purchase."
• The official law can be found in 13 V.S.A. § 2143b of the Vermont Statutes.

Are Online Sweepstakes Casinos Allowed?

Vermont does not have specific laws regulating online sweepstakes casinos. However, traditional online gambling is not explicitly legal in the state, which is why many Vermont players turn to social casinos and sweepstakes casinos instead.

Since sweepstakes casinos operate under sweepstakes laws rather than gambling laws, they remain a legal option in Vermont as long as:

• They do not require a purchase to play.
• They offer a free alternative method of entry.
• Players can redeem sweepstakes winnings for cash or prizes, following sweepstakes regulations.

Many social casinos also fall into this category, as they use virtual currency instead of real money. Since Vermont does not regulate them, they are freely available to players in the state.

Sweepstakes casinos and real-money casinos might look similar on the surface, but there are some major differences in how they work.

Real Money Casinos vs Sweepstakes Casinos

The biggest difference is how you play. In a real-money casino, you deposit actual cash, place bets, and can withdraw winnings like any regular gambling experience. With a sweepstakes casino, you’re not technically betting real money. Instead, you get virtual coins—some for free when you sign up, others as daily rewards, or even by mailing in requests. You can buy additional virtual currency, but the key legal difference is that at least some part of the play has to be free.

Another huge difference is the legal side of things. Real-money casinos operate under gambling laws, meaning they have to be licensed in the state or country they serve. Sweepstakes casinos, on the other hand, work under sweepstakes laws, which is why they’re available in places where online gambling isn’t legal. By using a system where players can win prizes without having to pay, they avoid being classified as traditional gambling.

That said, there are plenty of similarities. The games at sweepstakes casinos look and feel just like the ones at real-money casinos. You’ll find slots, table games, and sometimes even live dealer options. The excitement, the visuals, and the gameplay are all designed to mimic real casino action. Plus, if you win using sweepstakes coins, you can usually redeem them for real cash, which makes them feel pretty close to traditional online gambling.

In the end, sweepstakes casinos offer a workaround for players in states where online casinos aren’t legal. They’re not exactly the same, but if you’re looking for that casino experience without breaking gambling laws, they come pretty close.

 

Daily Fantasy Sports betting and Lottery gambling sites are also allowed. The latter sell tickets for multiple draws, including Mega Millions, Powerball, MegaBucks, Gimme 5, Pick 4, and Fast Play.

Lastly, online poker for real money is not legal in Vermont, which is expected since it is only legal in a few states across the US.

Depositing and Withdrawing when in VT

Please see below for a table of the withdrawal/deposit and banking term rankings. Click on the casino name for a detailed look at the withdrawal and deposit score of each casino and how we determined each. More information about deposit and withdrawal terms for US players can be found here.

Conclusion

In summary, Vermont’s gambling scene is quite limited but still offers a few options for residents. With the legal sports betting market launching in 2024, bettors can now wager on over 70 sports leagues from within state borders, marking a significant milestone. 

However, Vermont does not have any land-based casinos, racetracks, or legal online casinos and poker rooms. For those looking to enjoy traditional casino games or more betting options, nearby states like New York and Massachusetts or even Canada are popular destinations.

Offshore online casinos are another option if you’re willing to do your homework and find reputable gaming sites. To make it easy for Vermont players, we’ve curated a list of recommended online casinos. You can use the filter options to refine your search based on preferences like payment methods and USD, game providers, and special features such as Bitcoin support. This way, you’ll find the best casinos that meet your needs while staying safe. 

Written by: Michael Shackleford