2017 has seen a number of states legalize paid-entry Daily Fantasy Sports. It has also seen a number of states fail to pass legislation. With Senate Bill 136 approved and passed by both the House and Senate, Vermont has become just the 12th state to legalize DFS.
Vermont may not be the first state that comes to mind when you think about legalizing fantasy sports, but this is a big win for DFS moguls FanDuel and DraftKings, who just lost big fights in Florida and Texas. Both states killed DFS bills prior to adjourning for the year, leaving the status of those companies’ operations in the states unclear once again. Texas has already kicked FanDuel out, but Florida remains a big question mark as to their stance on DFS.
Gaining a foothold in a state like Vermont, where there are no gambling structures housed in the state, is a big step in the right direction and a big win for DFS.
Vermont’s DFS bill SB 136 is an interesting one, compared to other states. SB 136 provides regulatory powers in addition to verbiage that legalizes the activity. Vermont’s bill lays out a registration process for DFS companies that is overseen by the Secretary of State. The Attorney General is given autonomy over the rules that govern the industry in the state.
While there are no guidelines for taxation of paid-entry Daily Fantasy contests, there is a registration fee that companies must pay in order to operate in Vermont that is explained in SB 136. The bill also has a stipulation that Tax guidelines may be added by the state executive offices, so if the Governor decides on a tax plan it can be implemented. The rest of the bill focuses on protecting the customer.
SB 136 has officially passed through both the House and Senate and is awaiting a signature from Vermont’s governor, Phil Scott. This is the second DFS bill to come through Vermont, but it is the first to pass. The 2016 piece of legislation was not able to make it through the proper committees and was killed before the end of session.
The only thing standing in the way of SB 136 officially becoming law is the fact that Vermont’s legislature has delayed Sine Die for over two weeks. Traditionally, the bill would be sent to the Governor for his signature. But the Governor and Budget Committee have yet to reach an agreement on several issues, and so adjournment keeps getting pushed back.
Because of this, the senate has not sent its subsequently passed bills to the Governor’s office for his signature. If the bill is sent to the Governor’s office, it can be vetoed, signed into law, or, if neither of these things happen, can automatically become law after five days of sitting in the Governor’s office, due to Vermont law.
If this bill does get signed into law (or automatically passed, depending on how long it sits in the Governor’s office), Vermont will become the 12th state to officially legalize DFS. As a state with pretty much no land-based gambling options, this is a pretty significant step in the pro-gambling direction for . Could a push for legalized sports betting in Vermont be next for the small northern state?