Vermont Contest and Sweepstakes Laws

Vermont's lottery ban is 13 V.S.A. 2101. It's an offence to set up or promote a lottery for money or other property, to distribute money or property through one, to help with either, to knowingly let premises you control be used for one, or to run a raffle or game of chance for money or property. A first offence carries up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Later offences carry up to three years and the same fine.

The section opens "Except as provided in section 2143", which is where Vermont's exceptions live. Read 2143 yourself before relying on an exception, and treat free entry as the baseline.

For a Vermont-eligible giveaway:

1. Don't charge for entry or sell raffle tickets.
2. Offer a free alternative method of entry (AMOE) on any paid Action.
3. Write the rules, dates and prize into your Terms & Conditions.

Our Contest & Sweepstakes Laws by State in the U.S. guide covers the other states.

This isn't legal advice. Ask a Vermont attorney before you run any paid-entry raffle.

Sources:

• 13 V.S.A. 2101, Lotteries