“Small state, big lottery” isn’t the motto for the Vermont Lottery, but maybe it should be. They have had quite a head start, as the state lottery was established in 1976 and began selling tickets in February 1978. In fact, the “Green Mountain Game” went live on Valentine’s Day. Imagine that. A box of chocolates and a lottery ticket sure made for an easy gift.
There are only 21 full-time employees who make the Vermont Lottery tick, but they do quite a job, as the Education Fund in the state takes in proceeds in excess of $30 million annually.
Players must be 18 or older in Vermont.
Vermont Lottery Games
For a small staff and a small population, the VT Lottery has quite a bit to offer. There are seven draw games in the state, including the major multi-state Jackpot games Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky For Life. Vermont also has tri-state games with neighbors New Hampshire and Maine.
Instant Tickets and Fast Play games are among the offerings as well. Vermont does not allow for online or mobile sales of games, but it is in the works for the near future.
Online sellers like Jackpocket and Jackpot.com are not licensed in Vermont.
Vermont Lottery Draw Games
Powerball
The Vermont Lottery added Powerball in July 2003 and has participated in the game ever since. Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday with a 10:59 p.m. ET draw and a cutoff of 9:50 p.m. for purchasing tickets.
Each play costs $2 with five base numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26 selected by the player or Quick Picked by the computer. The Jackpot starts at $20 million and grows with each drawing without a winner.
Vermont also offers the Power Play option, which is a $1 add-on that serves as a multiplier of non-Jackpot prizes.
Mega Millions
In January 2010, Vermont added Mega Millions to the rotation. That game is drawn on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET, with ticket sales cut off at 9:50 p.m. on drawing nights.
Each play costs $2 for Mega Millions, with five base numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 25 either picked by the player or the computer. The optional Megaplier add-on costs $1 and serves as a multiplier of non-Jackpot prizes.
Like Powerball, the Jackpot starts at $20 million and rolls until a winner is found.
Lucky For Life
Most state lotteries either participate in Lucky For Life or Cash 4 Life. In Vermont, it is Lucky For Life, the daily draw game with a grand prize of $1,000 a day for life. The second prize is $25,000 a year for life.
This is a six-number draw game with five basic numbers from 1 to 48 and a Lucky Ball from 1 to 18. Each play costs $2 and draws are held around 10:38 p.m. ET seven days a week. Ticket sales are cut off at 9:30 p.m.
There are no multipliers or add-ons for this game, which is played in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
Tri-State Megabucks
Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday for Tri-State Megabucks, a three-state lotto Jackpot game shared with Maine and New Hampshire.
Each play costs $2 and there are five basic numbers from 1 to 41 and a Megaball from 1 to 6. The game is drawn at 7:59 p.m. ET and ticket sales are cut off nine minutes prior to the draw.
There are no multipliers or add-ons and prizes must be claimed in the state in which they were purchased.
Tri-State Gimme 5
Another tri-state draw game is Gimme 5, a game with a $100,000 top prize drawn on Monday and Friday around 7 p.m. ET. Ticket sales are cut off 15 minutes prior on drawing nights.
This game is a five-number draw for $1 per play that has numbers ranging from 1 to 39. Players can pick their own numbers or have the lottery terminal pick for them.
Pick 4
Tri-State Pick 4 is drawn twice a day out of New Hampshire, with a 1:10 p.m. ET afternoon draw and a 6:55 p.m. ET evening draw. Ticket sales are cut off 10 minutes prior to each draw.
Pick 4 play amounts range from 50 cents to $5 and players can play a variety of different ways and combinations. Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front Pair, Middle Pair, Back Pair, and Single Digit are the bet types and each one increases the cost of a play. The top prize available with this game on a $1 bet is $5,000.
Prizes from tickets purchased in Vermont must be claimed in Vermont.
Pick 3
Tri-State Pick 3 is drawn out of New Hampshire at 1:10 p.m. ET and 6:55 p.m. ET. Ticket sales are stopped 10 minutes before the draw. Tickets cost 50 cents to $5 per bet and players can play Straight, Box, Front Pair, Back Pair, and Single Digit.
The top prize here is $500 for matching the Pick 3 straight across.
Prizes from tickets purchased in Vermont must be claimed in Vermont.
Vermont Lottery Fast Play Games
The Vermont Lottery offers what are essentially scratchless scratch-offs called Fast Play Games. These are games that can be purchased at Vermont Lottery retailers and are instant winners as determined by the game at time of purchase.
Fast Play games range from $1 to $10 denominations and have top prizes based on the ticket cost. Players will want to either match up the prize amounts or symbols per the rules of the game, which can be found on the Vermont Lottery website, app, or on the ticket itself.
Vermont Lottery Fast Play Pro Games
The “Pro” is short for “Progressive”. These are Fast Play Games that are instant winners as determined by the lottery terminal at time or purchase. There are $1, $2, $5, $10 and $20 games that pay out a portion or all of the Progressive Jackpot based on the cost.
Players are looking to match up the symbols or prize amounts to win the accompanying value.
Vermont Lottery Instant Tickets
The Vermont Lottery has dozens of Instant Tickets, or Scratch-Offs, for players with varying denominations. Instant Tickets can be purchased at any Vermont Lottery retailer and have costs of $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, $20, or $25 with Jackpot prizes escalating based on the cost of the ticket.
Many seasonal and holiday themes are available over the course of the year and there are second-chance promotions available on certain Instant Tickets. The VT Lottery 2nd Chance can be accessed through the Vermont Lottery Club.
The Vermont Lottery 2nd Chance is also the lottery app in the state.
How To Claim Vermont Lottery Prizes
Vermont is a little bit unique when it comes to claiming prizes. M&T Bank locations in Vermont are authorized by the state lottery to pay out prize-winning tickets.
For Instant Tickets:
Prizes of $100 or less can be claimed at any authorized Vermont Lottery Agent or the Vermont Lottery Headquarters in Berlin.
Prizes from $101 to $5,000 can be claimed at M&T Bank locations or the Vermont Lottery Headquarters.
For Draw Games:
Prizes of $499 or less can be claimed at any Vermont Lottery Agent or the VT Lottery Headquarters.
Prizes of $500 to $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location and require a completed claim form.
Prizes of $5,001 or more can be claimed at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters in Berlin. The Vermont state withholding tax of 6% applies on any prize over $5,000, plus the federal tax of 24%.
Vermont Lottery Frequently Asked Questions
Can Vermont Lottery Tickets Be Purchased Online?
No, but they may be available soon!
How Many Vermont Lottery Retailers Are There?
There are nearly 600 approved lottery retailers in the state of Vermont.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Play The Vermont Lottery?
Players must be 18 years of age or older to enjoy the Vermont Lottery.