Enable JavaScript in your browser settings to use the full functionality of our website.

Are Vermont online casino platforms legal? Considering the autonomy each US state has regarding online gambling, it is best to know the laws in Vermont before you play. That’s why we have created this guide for everyone looking to play online in the state. 

The Green Mountain State is not known to be gambling friendly. Yet, it has welcomed social casino gaming with open arms as an option for free play. We’ll start by sharing whether the government has extended the same embrace to real money online casinos and suggest the best places to play. Let’s go!

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Find out the best options for playing casino games in the Green Mountain State.
  • Get to know Vermont’s brief history of gambling.
  • Discover the latest updates regarding online gambling in Vermont.

Are Real Money Online Casinos Legal in Vermont?

Online casinos for real money are not legal in Vermont. In fact, Vermont doesn’t legalize betting on games of chance within its borders. 

The prohibition of real money Vermont online casino sites is contained in different statutes. However, the most important is Title 13, Chapter 51, on Gambling and Lotteries. The chapter emphasizes that unauthorized gambling is illegal and specifies associated penalties.  

As a casino fan in VT, the best thing to do is check out nearby places where you can play safely. For that, consult this guide on what states have legal online casinos in the US to know the situation in other regions. 

Our Top 5 Sweepstakes Online Casinos in Vermont

Vermont’s law may not permit real money casino gambling, but it fully supports sweepstakes platforms. The reason is that sweepstakes casinos use virtual coins and credits, which you get for free. Hence, you don’t have to make a deposit or purchase to access the games.

You can review our guide on the top sweepstakes casinos in the US to identify all your options. Regardless, we’ve pinpointed the five below as the best Vermont online casino sites for sweepstakes gaming in 2024.

Funzpoints in Vermont 

If you go with this sweepstakes casino, you can claim regular bonuses to play for free. That’s the primary reason it ranks number one for VT players. The offers start after registration, with a 1,000 GC and 2.50 FP welcome bonus. Then, you’ll get frequent free coins from the daily bonus wheel and jackpots. 

In terms of games, Funzpoints offers a library of up to 90 games. It’s worth mentioning that the count is not as many as other Vermont online casino sweepstakes sites. However, you’re sure to applaud the variety, which includes slots and in-house originals. 

→ The Paintball Keno game is one of the best to play at Funzpoints. It’s an in-house game that follows classic Keno gameplay, so you’ll love it if you’re a fan of the lottery. 

Hello Millions in Vermont  

In second position is Hello Millions, a unique VT sweepstakes casino with games from quality providers. Upon visiting the website, you instantly get attracted to the comic-book-style design. It’s unlike any other sweepstakes gaming site on this list. Plus, Hello Millions will award you 15,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins for signing up. 

Hello Millions allows you to choose from 700+ games when you access your account. Like other sweepstakes casinos, you’ll mainly find online slots. However, the titles stand out since some are exclusive jackpots with millions of coins to win. You can play these games conveniently via the Hello Millions app.

→ An exciting game to play at Hello Millions Casino is Catch the Wind by Evoplay. You’ll love the engaging pirate theme as you sail searching for treasures. 

High 5 Casino in Vermont 

High 5 Casino merits its position as one of the best sweepstakes casinos in Vermont and other US states. Operated by High 5 Games, the site is home to over 1,500 games, and at least 1,200 are hit slots. So, if you’re a fan of spinning reels, you’ll want to play at High 5 Casino. The welcome bonus offers 250 GC, 5 SC, and 600 Diamonds after registration. 

In addition to slots, High 5 Casino offers live dealer table games. While the number of live titles is only six, it’s encouraging that you can get an experience similar to being in a land-based casino. You can watch the dealer share cards in blackjack and rotate the roulette wheel in real-time. 

→ If you want to play a thrilling High 5 Casino game, search for Ze Zeus by Hacksaw Gaming. This slot takes you to Mount Olympus to explore the mythical world of Greek gods.  

McLuck in Vermont 

You can play at McLuck if you need a relatively new sweepstakes casino. This site features an impressive collection of 700+ games. Plus, you can download and install its mobile app to play on the go. Whether you sign up on the website or application, you’ll get 7,500 Gold Coins and 5 Sweepstakes Coins as a welcome bonus

McLuck has a top-notch referral offer of 200,000 Gold Coins and 100 Sweeps Coins. It’s one of the biggest Vermont online casino bonus promotions to claim, and you simply have to share your link with your friends to register. However, the casino will only release the coins when your referral completes a primary requirement. 

→ Moving to games, you won’t want to miss out on playing Fury of Odin Megaways by Pragmatic Play. The high-volatility Norse-Mythology slot features vivid graphics with up to 117649 ways to win. 

Pulsz in Vermont 

Pulsz Casino is a favorite for many VT sweepstakes casino players, and it’s not difficult to understand why. On the site, you can play 900+ games for free. The welcome bonus of 5,000 GCs and 2 SCs is impressive, and you can also claim daily login rewards of up to 11,000 GCs and 1.2 SCs. 

All games at Pulsz Casino are from reputable online casino game providers. Interestingly, the collection includes slots, blackjack, poker, and arcade titles like Keno and Plinko. With such variety, you won’t record any dull session. 

→ You can play Templar Tumble by Relax Gaming at Pulsz Casino and experience the unique tumbling reels feature. Plus, the slot features a Mystery Reveal and Free Spins bonus rounds. 

Fact: Sweepstakes casinos allow you to redeem real prizes when you play and win with Sweeps Coins. These prizes can be cash sent to your bank account, eWallet, or a simple gift card.  

Can you play with Real Money at a Land-Based Casino in Vermont?

Unfortunately, there are no land-based casinos in Vermont. The region has no legal alternative for betting real money on casino games. Instead, you can either try one of the best new US sweepstakes online casinos or visit a neighboring American state that authorizes land-based casinos.

How to Declare Taxable Winnings in Vermont?

If you record gambling-related winnings in Vermont, you only have to pay federal tax. The state doesn’t legalize betting real money on casino games, so it doesn’t make any provision for it in local tax returns. 

As federal law demands, you’ll file with the IRS using Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return. The form specifies Schedule 1 for additional income, such as gambling winnings. Typically, the exact percentage you’ll pay depends on the total income. 

Other Legal Gambling Activities in Vermont

Since you can’t play at a Vermont online casino with real money, you may wonder what other gambling options are available. The good news is that there are some interesting alternatives, including those you can access online.

We’ve highlighted them below: 

  • Lottery: The Vermont Lottery Commission operates various games like scratch tickets and draw games to participate in. Moreover, as a Vermonter, you can play games in the Tri-State Lottery with Maine and New Hampshire. 
  • Charitable games: VT allows non-profit organizations to conduct limited forms of charitable gambling. The games mainly include raffles and bingo. 
  • Online sports betting: After legalization in 2023, you can now bet on sports games online in Vermont. Note that the activity is only permitted online and not at retail locations. You must only use state-licensed sportsbooks

History of Gambling in Vermont

Historically, not much has happened in VT regarding gambling. The state has never welcomed the activity, although it has been much more friendly to other gambling forms like lottery and sports betting. Interestingly, betting on horse races was once legal in Vermont.

Below is a historical timeline on gambling in the state to get all the details: 

  • 18th-19th Century: Early settlers in Vermont generally disapproved of gambling for moral and religious reasons. 
  • 18th to 19th Century: Various local ordinances and state laws are enacted to prohibit gambling activities.
  • 1850s: Vermont’s state legislature passes stringent anti-gambling laws, further restricting gambling activities.
  • 1960: Parimutuel betting is approved by the state electorate via a referendum. 
  • 1977: Vermont allows limited forms of charitable gambling, such as raffles and bingo, under strict regulations for nonprofit organizations.
  • 1978: Vermont Lottery Commission establishes the state lottery, with proceeds supporting the Vermont Education Fund.
  • 1985: Vermont joins the Tri-State with New Hampshire and Maine.
  • 1992: The famous Green Mountain Race Track is closed. 
  • 1995: Greyhound racing is banned in the state. 
  • 2012: Vermont tightens its regulations on internet gambling, reinforcing the prohibition of online casinos and other forms of online gambling.
  • 2019: A bill to legalize casino gaming was introduced in the legislature, but it was unsuccessful. 
  • 2023: Governor Phil Scott passes a bill authorizing the Department of Liquor and Lottery to set up a sports betting system.
  • 2024: Online sports betting goes live in Vermont.

Fact: DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics are the three legal online sportsbooks in Vermont. 

What’s Next for Vermont Online Casinos?

The most recent in the gambling industry for Vermont is sports betting legalization, with the activity launching in the first month of 2024.

Unfortunately, there’s been no new update on online casino gaming in the Green Mountain State. In 2019, Rep. Peter Fagan sponsored Act H.293, pushing for the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery to regulate casinos. However, the act didn’t pass the first reading. The last recorded action on it was on the 20th of February that year.

Nevertheless, experts see sports betting legalization as encouraging for the future of real money online casino Vermont sites. Since VT residents can now wager on sports events via their smartphones, it shows the state is slowly loosening its tight grip on gambling restrictions. 

Here’s what Governor Phil Scott had to say about the recent development:

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal ban that was in place. I first proposed legalizing sports wagering in 2019, and the legislature finally agreed this year, and I signed it into law.

Governor Phil Scott

Evidently, it took the legislature five years since the governor’s request to approve sports betting. It’s worth noting that the initial proposal was in 2019, at the same time as the H.293 Act on casino gaming.

So, while there may be no public reports, VT lawmakers may be deliberating the possibility of casinos in the background.

So, Will You Bet From Vermont Tonight?

Vermont restricts casino gaming online and offline. Therefore, if you’re in the state, you cannot bet on games with real money. As we’ve indicated, your best alternative is to pick from the sweepstakes casinos we recommend. Try out one of our top picks and enjoy great casino games and rewarding prizes!

We also recommend bookmarking our website TrustnPlay and checking regularly for updates on Vermont online casino sites! Our educative betting 101 page is also a nice and free resource you can check for improving your gameplay. Interested? Click here.