Founded nearly 50 years ago (1977), the Vermont State Lottery Commission plays an integral role in Vermont’s economy each year. Overseeing and regulating the Vermont Lottery, the Commission is responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly and the funds get distributed appropriately.
In The Green Mountain State, all profits generated by the lottery are distributed to the education department, with the Vermont State Lottery Commission being responsible for the oversight of those funds. With the basics covered, let’s take a deeper dive into everything else you need to know about the commission and its role in the Vermont Lottery.
What is the Vermont State Lottery Commission?
With a headquarters in Berlin, VT, the Vermont State Lottery Commission was founded in 1977 following a 1976 referendum to legalize a state lottery. With the enactment of Public Act #82 by the VT General Assembly, the Vermont Lottery Commission was established to run the Vermont Lottery.
From its beginning, the Vermont State Lottery Commission has been responsible for overseeing the operations and growth of the Vermont Lottery, in addition to making sure its current games are run fairly and responsibly on behalf of all VT residents. They are also responsible for regulating the sales of all lottery tickets throughout the states, licensing the retailers who sell them, and ensuring all involved are acting in accordance with VT state law focused on the VT Lottery
Rolling out their first state-specific game in February 1978, Green Mountain Game, June of that year saw their first instant win game, Scratch ‘n Match. In September 1985, Vermont joined Maine and New Hampshire to form the Tri-State Lottery, a lottery that spans all three states to make jackpots higher and games bigger. Their first drawing was on September 14, 1985, when the Tri-State Megabucks officially began the Vermont-Maine-New Hampshire partnership which endures today.
What forms of gambling does the Vermont State Lottery Commission regulate?
Though their primary focus is on Vermont Lottery games, the Vermont State Lottery Commission has a variety of games they are responsible for regulating. Let’s take a closer look at the forms of gambling the Vermont State Lottery Commission regulates.