MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s sports betting industry generated $7,252,813 in revenue for the state in 2025, up from $6,346,073 in its first year, according to data from the Department of Liquor and Lottery.
The “handle”– the total amount wagered by Vermonters– jumped to $235,089,458 in 2025, compared to $198,754,297 in 2024, the first year of legal sports betting in the state.
“That’s kind of going as expected as far as a maturing market,” said Joshua Sumner, Vermont’s director of sports wagering.
He said the department expects continued growth as the market matures.
“This market is projected to continue to mature, and along with that, it’s projected to continue to grow as far as handle,” he said.
As more Vermonters place bets, the Department of Mental Health’s problem gambling hotline (1-800-GAMBLER) and website have seen increased usage.
“We have definitely seen an increase in utilization, and I think this is a good sign that people are understanding that there are resources available to them,” said Dr. Kelley Klein, the medical director for the Vermont Department of Mental Health.
Despite the additional revenue, some lawmakers aren’t convinced sports betting is a win for Vermont.
“It’s just hard to say that we can do this and raise money and that’s a positive. We all like to see lower taxes elsewhere, but gambling for me has always been a tax on people who are a little more desperate,” said Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Washington-Chittenden.
State officials said they will continue monitoring the market and Vermonters’ betting habits as the industry grows.
“We’re really working diligently together to make sure that we have a safe and responsible marketplace for sports wagering in Vermont,” Sumner said.
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office said in a statement that it has not encountered any enforcement issues with the state’s three contracted sports wagering operators: “The Attorney General’s Office continues to provide general counsel assistance to the Department of Liquor and Lottery (DLL) as it administers the sports wagering program. There have been no contract enforcement actions brought by the State against any of the three contracted sports wagering operators in Vermont. We would refer further questions about the day-to-day sports wagering operations in Vermont to DLL. Should you be interested in Vermont’s problem gaming program, through which players can obtain support services, we would refer those questions to the Department of Mental Health.”
