Vermont Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Repeal Online Sports Betting and Lottery Legalization
Just a year after Vermont embraced online sports betting, three state lawmakers are attempting a surprising reversal. House Representatives Thomas Stevens, Troy Headrick, and Michael Mrowicki have introduced House Bill H.133, seeking to abolish the law permitting online sports betting and the state lottery.
The bill, submitted on February 4th and referred to the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs, has raised eyebrows as the advocates have not previously criticized online sports betting. Representative Headrick cited social costs and the impact on low-income citizens as reasons for the repeal, despite Vermont’s efforts to address problem gambling through platforms like VTGamblingHelp.org.
Vermont was the last New England state to legalize online sports betting, which proved to be a success with a total handle of $198.7 million and gross gaming revenue of $21.9 million in its first year. With the state facing budgetary challenges, some question the wisdom of eliminating a lucrative revenue stream that could push gamblers back to illegal sites. Nearly 30% of Vermont’s sports betting handle came from out-of-state players, highlighting the potential economic implications of banning legal sportsbooks.
The proposed repeal goes against the national trend of states legalizing sports betting to combat illegal markets and boost tax revenues. Industry experts predict that Vermont legislators may opt to refine existing regulations rather than fully repeal online gambling. The ultimate decision on the future of online sports betting in Vermont and its impact on other states remains to be seen.
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