While its neighbors work to pass rules to govern casino gaming, Vermont does nothing. Players in the state have a grim future because there are no land-based casinos to promote the internet gaming industry. Unfortunately, it is illegal to gamble in Vermont, so you can’t play a hand of poker or blackjack or deposit a dollar in a slot machine. Those looking for a genuine casino experience must travel to nearby cities with established tribal or commercial casinos, as gambling, poker, and dog racing are all forbidden.
Online casinos that welcome Vermonters are the next best thing to going out of state. Playing online casino games is allowed in the state since there are no laws specifically prohibiting this kind of gambling. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 has made it such that many offshore operators avoid the United States market. Since these offshore sites are not governed by any central authority, it is vital that you select a reliable one to ensure the security of your funds and data.
Citizens under the age of 18 are not allowed to purchase a lottery ticket, but they are allowed to receive and cash in winning tickets that have been given to them as presents. The closest thing to a slot machine up to its removal from service in 2016 were the electronic state lottery terminals.
Even casual gambling is illegal in this ultra-strict jurisdiction. Anyone caught gambling in a social setting for money at cards, dice, or any other table game faces a fine, jail time, or both. Poker is not allowed, but other forms of gambling including raffles, bingo, and social card games are.
Since daily fantasy sports remain in a legal limbo, both operators and Players take advantage of the absence of clear regulations to engage in betting.
Curiosities about the State
Despite its reputation as a legal gambling wasteland, Vermont excels in other areas, such as maple syrup production. The name comes from the French words for “green mountains,” “verts monts.”
After the original 13 colonies, Vermont was the first to join the Union. Its 626, 562 citizens make it the second-smallest state in the US, after only Wyoming. There are forests covering 77% of the land, and for every 3.8 humans, there is 1 cow.
Casinos in Vermont
Vermonters who want to try their luck at a casino must travel to one of the states that offers legal gambling. Fortunately, several neighboring states have made the same leap, and places like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania both have and welcome commercial and tribal casinos. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort is only 2.5 hours distant from New York City, and the Rivers Casino in Schenectady is almost 3 hours to the south. Less than two hours away, in Montreal, is another viable option for players. There are seventy-five poker tables in Montreal’s Playground Poker Club. Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut has 147 poker tables, while the Encore Boston Harbor has 88.
Betting on horse races is permitted, but with the decline in attendance, the last live track shut down in 1991. Off-track betting can be found in a select number of establishments, most often pubs and taverns. The two largest OTB services are operated by TwinSpires and BetAmerica.
The sole legal form of gambling available to residents of the area is the state lottery. The Lucky for Life, Gimme 5, Pick 3, and Pick 4 lotteries are all available to locals. Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire run a joint lottery that includes interstate games including Powerball, Mega Millions, and Megabucks Plus.