Vermont Releases Legal Sports Betting Catalog for January 11 Launch

Legal sports betting is coming to Vermont... and it is coming soon, as residents will soon have access to some of our best sportsbooks.

The Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery has been busy populating its list of Vermont sports betting apps that will be going live, and late last week, it came out with its catalog of sports that Vermonters will be able to wager on.

It has been a long time coming for Vermont citizens, but Jan. 11, 2024, is the date that sports fans in the state will finally be able to participate in legal Vermont sports betting.

The news was met with a mix of excitement and a small sign of relief. “I first proposed Vermont legalize sports wagering several years ago, and it’s good to see it come to fruition,” said Gov. Phil Scott. “Vermonters and visitors alike will soon be able to access a regulated sports wagering marketplace, which will come with important consumer protections and generate revenue for the State.”

About the wagering catalog

Vermont legal sports betting regulators will follow a similar sports betting catalog template as most other states in the broad U.S. legal sports betting industry. 

Bettors in the Green Mountain State will have the opportunity to wager on nearly all major professional sports worldwide. It includes typical NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and MLS betting opportunities and obscure options, such as Major League Fishing and Drone Racing. And they'll be able to do so while using Vermont sportsbook promos.

In all, 70 sports have been included on the state's menu of options, including major global professional sports leagues, NCAA competitions (with exceptions), and other international tournaments and events across the globe.

Some relevant exclusions to the list include in-state college teams, unless they are part of a postseason event like March Madness, and Minor League Baseball, the professional league that includes the Green Mountain State's only professional sports team, the Vermont Lake Monsters.

Amateur sports, including wagers on athletes under 18, will also be prohibited in the Vermont legal sports betting scene.

Vermont regulators also cleared some 24 sanctioned esports events to the legal sports wagering menu in a move that surprised some and differed from some current U.S. legal sports betting jurisdictions.

Where Vermont's legal sports betting industry stands

At the end of last week, Vermont had its official sports betting menu, its proposed list of providers, and an official launch date for its legal sports betting platform.

FanDuel Vermont, DraftKings Vermont, and Fanatics Vermont have all been confirmed to launch in Vermont as soon as the platform goes live. It will be a mobile sports betting platform only at first — there is no word on any retail sports betting in the state at this point.

Expectations

As one of the smallest states in America in terms of population, Vermont's legal sports betting industry is not expected to become a behemoth. Three operators in the state will battle for a small market share and be subjected to a 20% revenue-sharing rate and a $500,000 licensing fee.

Analysts feel that as much as $7 million in tax revenue could result from legal sports betting in its first year in Vermont. Early hopes were for $2 million in the first year and as much as $4.6 million by 2026.