RG website launched by Vermont health department

Vermont Sports Betting Website Launch
Image: Shutterstock

The Vermont Department of Mental Health is taking steps to combat problem gambling.

The department went live with its responsible gambling website on Tuesday providing residents with resources to prevent and treat sports betting and other gambling addictions. The website aims to serve the estimated 11,600 Vermonters with a gambling disorder.

“We needed more, we obviously had lottery and scratch-offs which there are people that become addicted to those as well,” said Dept. of Mental Health Medical Director Dr. Kelley Klein. “But we knew that when online sports betting went live we would have a rise in individuals that were at least at risk for problem gambling or gambling addiction.”

The new website provides Vermonters with 24-hour access to a live chat and toll-free helpline while also providing access to community-based resources such as Gamblers Anonymous. The website also offers the ability to add yourself to a gambling self-exclusion list. Vermonters can put themselves on the list for one to five years or a lifetime.

Vermont launches sports betting

The department is providing RG resources as Vermont matures as a sports betting market.

On Jan. 11, the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery authorized sportsbooks in the state to accept wagers. Vermont went live with three sportsbooks in January after receiving five applications for market access. It launched with Fanatics Sportsbook, DraftKings, and FanDuel after denying applications from BetMGM and ESPN Bet.

The three licensed operators paid an upfront $500,000 fee to launch wagering and will be required to pay an additional $366,666 for each year they maintain operations in Vermont.

In May, Vermont bettors wagered $12.6 million with adjusted gross revenue at $1.1 million.