If the Vermont House now passes the amended legislation, Gov. Phil Scott will most likely pass H. 127 as well.
Only a few more winks stand between the citizens of the Green Mountain State and sports betting.
The Vermont Senate on Thursday gave what would be its final blessing to H. 127, which would allow at times in the state through online sports sites and apps.
Senators adjusted the timing of the bill in the House before passing it, meaning the bill will now have to go back to the House, which already passed H. 127, for amendments to pass before legalized sports betting in Vermont can continue. These proposed adjustments come with a new payment scheme for operators and a ban on advertising aimed at those under 21, among others.
Initially, however, H. 127 would still allow sports betting in Vermont under the supervision of the Department of Alcoholic Beverages and Lotteries. If the bill eventually becomes law, the branch will conduct a bidding procedure to decide on two to six cellular sports betting operators to accept bets in the state. However, the branch may have only one or no operator if there are not enough worthy candidates.
In addition, if the House passes the legislation, Gov. Phil Scott will most likely pass H. 127 as well. Lawmakers expect legal sports betting to launch in the state by January 2024.
If that were the case, Vermont would take aim at the other New England states, which have already legalized sports betting.