Only bona fide nonprofit organizations that have engaged in charitable, educational, religious or civic activities in Vermont may operate games of chance. A nonprofit organization may exceed the prize limitations four days per year, so long as the days are at least 20 days apart. The entire proceeds from break-open ticket sales on premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages must be used for charitable purposes. The law allows payments for equipment and for advertising, so long as these expenses are reasonable. All remaining proceeds must be used for benevolent purposes.
Most nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to run their gambling events.
Refreshments and meals given to workers are not included. An organization may hold games twice a week. Generally, the same location cannot be used for gambling activities more than twice a week. A nonprofit may hold casino events three times a year, but not more than once in a calendar quarter, and casino events must be at least 15 days apart. Nonprofits can share locations for casino events as long as the sharing would not cause a location to be used more than three times a year as a casino.