Vermont has taken one of the strictest stances on gambling at both brick-and-mortar and online casinos in the USA. In fact, Vermonters and those visiting can only play at state-approved lotteries, charitable gambling in the form of bingo, and pari-mutuel wagering. Everything else, including online gambling, can be considered to be illegal.
Our Online Casino Vermont Reviews
Vermont is a small state located in the northeastern side of the USA that is famous for its maple syrup, cheddar cheese, and almost 80 percent of land covered in forest. Also known as the Green Mountain State, Vermont is definitely not famous for its gambling establishments: it does not have any. Indeed, the state’s strict stance on gambling at brick-and-mortar casinos extends to online gambling at both Vermont casinos online, which are not regulated by the state and are therefore illegal, and offshore casinos. However, you can find social casinos that don’t require real money to play games online. Below we will delve into the legality of various forms of land-based and online gambling in Vermont.
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The Legality Of Land-Based Casinos & Online Casinos In Vermont
The tiny northeastern state of Vermont has one of the strictest laws governing gambling in any shape or form: there are no commercial casinos, no tribal casinos and, while pari-mutuel wagering on horse and dog racing is legal, there are no racetracks. Indeed, the only form of gambling which is both allowed and available to Vermonters who are 18 years and over are charitable gambling in the form of bingo and state-approved lotteries. These state-approved lotteries include the state lottery by the name of Vermont Lottery, as well as those of the Tri-State, which are done together with New Hampshire and Maine, and which include Megabucks, Mega Millions and Powerball, among others. There have been attempts to change this, of course. As of March 2020, for example, a Bill to create a sports betting study in Vermont moved forward, meaning that Vermonters may be able to do so legally in the future. But this isn’t the first time such Bills ended up rejected: between 2009 and 2015, State Rep. Ronald Hubert tried to introduce legislation to establish a casino in the state six-time, though these, clearly, never went through.
Change in the state of Vermont is indeed slow, particularly when it comes to gambling. While pari-mutuel became legal in 1959 and the state lottery was passed by referendum in 1978, very little else has happened. At least, not for the benefit of gamblers, who lost the Green Mountain Race Track in Pownal after 23 years in operation in 1992. It was the state’s only racetrack. Indeed, for now, it seems that all forms of gambling bar the state-approved lotteries, charitable gambling, and pari-mutuel will remain illegal… including online gambling. The law of Vermont defines gambling as ‘winning or losing money or any other valuable thing by play or hazard at any game’ (13 V.S.A. § 2141 of the Vermont Law). The indefinite, yet all-encompassing, statement means that residents and visitors to the Green Mountain State cannot play online.
Those caught breaking the law in Vermont are penalized: the penalty for being caught playing any casino or gambling game illegally at home or on private property is a fine of between $10 and $200; the penalty for being caught doing so at a public gambling house is a fine of between $10 and $200, as well as up to 60 days in jail. The punishment may indeed not be particularly tough, but it is never advisable to break the law of the state you live in or are visiting. For that reason, we do not recommend that you play online at Vermont casinos online, any offshore online casino, or any brick-and-mortar casino while in the state. Having said that, not all is bleak for those living or visiting Vermont. Indeed, many Vermonters who live in or near Burlington, the largest city in the state, drive two and a half hours to play at the Akwesasne Mohawk Resort, a tribal casino in New York. Others sometimes drive four and a half hours to get to Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods in Connecticut, or even seven hours to Atlantic City, where gambling has been completely legal since 1978.
Land-Based Gambling In Vermont Today
The state of Vermont has no commercial or tribal casinos operating from within its perimeters. Nevertheless, some Vermonters drive out of the state to be able to play their favorite casino games legally. Below, we list the three most popular offerings outside of Vermont.
| Casino | State | Legal Age to Play | Approx Distance from Burlington, Vermont | Games Available |
| Akwesasne Mohawk Resort | Hogansburg, New York | 18 | 2.5 hours | Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Craps, Double Deck Blackjack, Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow Poker, Poker, Roulette, Single Deck Blackjack, Slots, Spanish 21, Sports Betting. |
| Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, Connecticut | 21 | 4.5 hours | Baccarat, Bingo, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Casino War, Craps, Crazy 4 Poker, Keno, Let It Ride, Money Wheel, Off-track Betting, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Poker, Roulette, Slots, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em. |
| Foxwoods | Mashantucket, Connecticut | 21 | 4.5 hours | Baccarat, Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, 4 Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Craps, Let It Ride, Mini-Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, Off-track Betting, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Poker, Roulette, Sic Bo, Slots, Spanish 21, Texas Hold’em Bonus, Wheel of Fortune. |
Online Gambling Laws In Vermont
The gambling laws in Vermont are among the strictest in the whole United States. In fact, other than state-approved lotteries and charitable gambling, most other forms of gambling are illegal or, if they are legal, are unavailable. Because of this uncompromising attitude to gambling, and because operating an online casino from within the state is illegal, many agree that playing at Vermont casinos online is not legal. And we stand by this too. Beware, though, as since the law of Vermont does not specifically mention online gambling anywhere, you will find many online sites that state that you can play online at offshore registered casinos while in the Green Mountain State. This isn’t the case, as, on top of it being illegal, it is not easy to deposit and withdraw money on these sites. Moreover, offshore casinos can put you, your money, your data, and your rights at risk, as there are no state laws governing how they operate.
Even so, it must be mentioned that the state of Vermont actually gives its citizens the opportunity to get their illegal gaming losses back via civil action. Our advice, therefore, is to stay well within the confines of the law and not to play at any Vermont online casino, or gamble any money on any games at offshore online casinos, including Daily Fantasy Sport. If you really have a gambling itch, however, there are New Jersey and Delaware casinos, which are not too far from Vermont, actually have licensed and regulated online gaming and those visiting these two states can play slots online legally at them.
What should I know about Online Casinos in Vermont?
- Gambling in Vermont is practically completely illegal. The state has no land-based casinos, no tribal casinos, and no licensed or regulated Vermont casinos online.
- The law states that ‘winning or losing money or any other valuable thing by play or hazard at any game’ (13 V.S.A. § 2141 of the Vermont Law). Therefore, this can include gambling online at offshore-registered casinos.
- The only forms of gambling legal in the Green Mountain State are a state-approved lottery, which includes the Vermont Lottery, the Tri-State lottery, and some scratch cards, charitable gambling in the form of bingo and raffles, and pari-mutuel wagering. However, no operational racetracks currently exist in the state.
- Since gambling in Vermont is so restricted, a number of citizens drive out of the state to New York, Atlantic City, or Connecticut to play at legal commercial or tribal casinos there.
- The stated legal gambling age for poker and casino is 21 in Vermont.
Gambling Laws Governing Offshore Casinos & What It Means For Vermont Players
Offshore casinos are online casinos that are registered in a jurisdiction other than the one you are in. For Vermonters, that means any casino registered outside of the Green Mountain State. These are not illegal sites – in fact, many of the largest online casino sites that offer poker, roulette, blackjack, slots, and more are registered in countries that attract such business through favorable laws and tax rates. Even so, just because they operate within the law in a foreign jurisdiction, doesn’t mean that you can play legally. In the state of Vermont, in fact, the law is clear that citizens and visitors are not allowed to win or lose any money on any game of chance, and so that automatically excludes offshore casinos.
Moreover, offshore casinos may put you at risk simply because the state does not regulate them and therefore you are not directly protected – though Vermont does give those who lose money during illegal games the chance to get it back via civil action. Even so, it can be difficult to deposit money to play and to claim and withdraw winnings, which may be in a different currency to dollars, and may have to go through various checks before being accepted. Our advice, therefore, is that Vermonters and people visiting the state of Vermont should not play at offshore online casinos while in the Green Mountain State.
Online Casino Games For Vermont
Since Vermont does not regulate any brick-and-mortar or online casinos, then there are absolutely no casino games to be played in the state. This, of course, includes video poker, video slots, roulette, online blackjack, online craps, bingo, keno, and their live versions. Daily Fantasy Sport and sports betting are also illegal in Vermont at the time of writing, with only the state-approved lotteries and charitable bingo and raffles available legally.
Payment Options At Vermont Casinos Online
Seeing as Vermont casinos online are not regulated or licensed by the state, there is no data for the preferred payment options or currencies of Vermonters. If you are out of the Green Mountain State and would like to play at legal online casino sites, then our advice is to check the Terms and Conditions of your preferred site to ensure that they fit your needs and wishes. If you do this, make sure to play responsibly and stay within your budget.
Vermont Casinos Online FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Vermont?
No, gambling at online casinos in Vermont is illegal. This is taken from the fact that the law of the state clearly expresses that gambling is ‘winning or losing money or any other valuable thing by play or hazard at any game’ (13 V.S.A. § 2141). This law is quite all-encompassing and, in fact, the state has no land-based or tribal casinos operating from within its perimeters, as well as no licensed Vermont casinos online. The only forms of gambling allowed in Vermont are the state-approved lotteries, charitable gambling in the shape of not-for-profit bingo and raffles, and pari-mutuel wagering – though there are no operational racetracks in the state, making the latter somewhat redundant. When looking for Vermont casinos online, you may also come across offshore-registered sites that allow Vermonters to play. This is also not recommended as on top of it being illegal for you to gamble while in the Green Mountain State, these sites may put you, your data, your money, and your rights at risk.
Can I play at an online casino in Vermont via mobile or tablet?
Not really. While you may find sites that allow you to play, this is illegal and could land you in trouble with the law. If caught and found guilty of this misdemeanor, you will receive a fine of not less than $10 and not more than $200. The state of Vermont, however, does give those who lose money in illegal gambling the opportunity to retrieve it by filing a civil action.
What casino games can I play at Vermont casinos online?
None, all games including video poker, video slots, online roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, online bingo, and keno, as well as their live versions, are illegal in Vermont. Having said that, social gambling in which no money is wagered is perfectly legal in Vermont, and these games can be played at a variety of safe-to-use online casino sites.
Is it possible to play online casino games with dollars?
Since gambling in Vermont is not legal, there is no currency you can use to do so. Moreover, not all offshore online casinos will accept dollars, adding to the many reasons why you shouldn’t play on any such website. If, however, you are out of the Green Mountain State and would like to play online at legal online casinos – such as those in New Jersey and Delaware, which are perfectly legal – then our recommendation is to check the Terms & Conditions of your online casino website to ensure that they accept your preferred currency.
Are the Vermont casinos online on this site regulated?
All online casinos mentioned on this site are licensed, legal, and regulated. Moreover, many of them have extra measures in place to keep you, your rights, your money, and your data as safe as humanly possible. Nevertheless, since gambling in Vermont is not legal, we do not mention any Vermont casinos online on this page.
Am I eligible to receive an online casino bonus at a Vermont Casino?
No, since Vermont casinos online are not legal, then bonuses and other offers do not apply to Vermonters. If you are out of the state and in a jurisdiction where it is legal to play online, however, then some offers may apply to you. To confirm this, please read the Terms & Conditions of your online casino website of choice.
How do I start playing for real money at a Vermont online casino?
Sadly, since gambling in Vermont is not legal, there are no Vermont casinos online available to those living in or visiting the state. Those reading this from outside the Green Mountain State, however, can access our many other pages to find out how to play in the state they are visiting or living in. Of course, always make sure that the jurisdiction you are in has deemed it legal to gamble online before doing so.
Which online casino payment options are popular in Vermont?
Due to gambling being so restricted in Vermont, we have no data available on popular payment options in the state. When playing online from a jurisdiction that allows it, however, always check the online casino website’s Terms & Conditions to see what kinds of payments are allowed and which currencies are supported.
Do I need to pay taxes on my gambling winnings in Vermont?
Since all forms of gambling, including that at Vermont online casino and offshore-registered casinos, is illegal, then this is not a question we can answer. Nevertheless, according to the official Vermont Lottery website, if you win $5,000 or more in the state lottery, the “winnings … are subject to Federal Income Tax Withholding of at least 24% and Vermont State Income Tax Withholding of at least 6%.”
Stay Safe when Gambling in Vermont!
We hope this has answered all your questions regarding Vermont online casinos and gambling in Vermont. As always, we urge you to follow the laws of the jurisdiction you are living in or visiting and to always stay within your budget whenever you do play.
