Lawmakers in Vermont are looking to soon open the state for online sports betting prior to the start of the NFL Playoffs, according to an online report from Silive. The Department of Liquor and Lottery (DLL) is leading the charge to open the commercial market, with support from Governor Phil Scott, who recently endorsed a statewide sports betting law.
Once live, Vermont will join the ranks for more than 30 states that have regulated online sports wagering since the May 2018 US Supreme Court decision to overturn a federal sports betting ban.
This lays a foundation for up to six online sportsbooks to open in Vermont, once the market is up and running.
DLL Commissioner Wendy Knight told Silive that she is “optimistic” that the state could open for sports betting as early as January, far sooner than the average 17 months other states have taken to launch after passing legal gambling laws.
The state of Vermont said it plans to streamline its process to move to an open market, as well as “benefit from the knowledge and experiences of its counterparts."
As the DLL plans for the pending launch, the state regulator is scheduled to meet July 12 to discuss and review initial and enhance procedures. The group will also release requests for proposals that will open bidding opportunities for operators to evaluate and submit their proposals.
The DLL said it plans to finalize contracts by the end of the year to stay on target for a January market launch.
