{"id":268647,"date":"2023-04-13T08:03:35","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T13:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=268647"},"modified":"2023-04-13T09:34:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T14:34:04","slug":"vermont-sports-betting-bill-passes-senate-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/vermont-sports-betting-bill-passes-senate-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Vermont Sports Betting Bill Passes Senate Committee Following Amendments"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Vermont sports betting bill is moving forward in the state Senate after a committee in the Legislature’s upper chamber signed off on the gaming expansion measure.<\/p>\n

\"Vermont
Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, Vt. Vermont sports betting is inching closer to legalization after a Senate committee this week passed a measure to allow as many as six online sportsbook platforms. (Image: The New York Times<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vermont Rep. Matthew Birong (D-Addison 3), with six Democratic and three Republican co-sponsors, introduced House Bill 127 in late January. The statute seeks to allow online sportsbooks to operate inside the Green Mountain State. Vermont doesn’t have commercial or tribal casinos, nor racinos or pari-mutuel wagering.<\/p>\n

HB 127 passed the Vermont House of Representatives by a voice vote last month. It was a historic happening, as it marked the first time in Vermont history that a sports betting measure cleared either chamber of the Legislature in Montpelier.<\/p>\n

\n

The House version of HB 127 sought to authorize up to six online sportsbook platforms<\/a>, with a minimum of two operators required for the market to commence. Betting on professional and college sports would be allowed, with one major exception being that college sports involving Vermont-based schools would remain prohibited regardless of where the game is played.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

HB 127 also mandates that regulated sportsbooks share 20% of their gross proceeds with the state.<\/p>\n

Senate Changes<\/b><\/h2>\n

After receiving HB 127 last month, Senate leaders directed the Vermont sports betting bill to the chamber’s Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee.<\/p>\n

\n

Committee members have been since laboring to adjust the sports betting statute to their liking. That resulted in several critical changes, including the Senate committee members implementing an annual fee that the online sportsbooks must pay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The annual fee is dependent on the number of operators. The annual rate structure is as follows in the latest version of HB 127:<\/p>\n