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Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont authorizes annual poker tournament permits and imposes a 35 percent tax for the Education Fund
Last action · January 27, 2026: Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsSponsor: Christopher Mattos
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What This Bill Would Do
An act relating to authorizing the issuance of limited wagering event permits for poker games and tournaments
Event operators face new licensing fees, background check mandates, and a 35 percent tax on poker tournament revenues, while the state directs tax proceeds toward public education funding.
- The Vermont General Assembly considers statutory changes regulating gaming activities and state revenues through its standing committees. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Wagering event operators
Operators must pay a $500 permit fee, submit to criminal background checks, and pay a 35 percent tax on adjusted gross receipts.
Poker players
Players participating in permitted events must be over 18 years of age and participate in events limited to 72 hours.
Department of Liquor and Lottery
The Department is tasked with reviewing applications, processing background checks, and issuing up to five annual permits.
Key Facts
- The Board of Liquor and Lottery is authorized to issue a maximum of five limited wagering event permits annually.
- A limited wagering event permit authorizes a wagering event operator to host poker games or tournaments for a duration not to exceed 72 hours.
- The Board shall not issue more than one limited wagering event permit to the same person in a given calendar year.
- Wagering event operators must pay an application fee of $500.00.
Show all 10 facts
- Permit holders are assessed a tax of 35 percent of the adjusted gross receipts from the wagering event.
- Tax returns and payments must be remitted to the Commissioner of Taxes within 15 days after the end of the wagering event.
- All tax revenue collected from these events must be deposited in the Education Fund.
- Applicants must submit names of principals and key employees, premises and security details, jurisdictional history, and measures to ensure players are over 18 years of age.
- Applicants, principals, and controlling individuals must undergo fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background checks, or submit compliant third-party checks.
- The act takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many poker event permits can be issued each year?
What is the tax rate on poker events under this bill?
Where does the tax money go?
What is the maximum duration of a permitted wagering event?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroducedRead 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Dedicated Education Funding
All tax revenue collected from temporary poker events is explicitly earmarked for the state Education Fund rather than general revenues.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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