Virginia's proposed iGaming legislation (SB 118 and HB 161) doesn't just address responsible gaming — the proposed provisions would become the gold standard of consumer protections for the United States

The reality is that these legislative bills would put Virginia at the vanguard of responsible gaming by mandating the most robust consumer protections in the nation

This year, the General Assembly has an opportunity to enact comprehensive legislation — House Bill 161 and Senate Bill 118 — that protects Virginians from predatory platforms, creates jobs and collects new tax revenue from licensed iGaming operators

Many sites do not have strong identity verification and are able to advertise on social media with little oversight. Tech-savvy young people in the United States can gamble on them using false identities and readily available software to mask their locations, often unbeknownst to their parents

By last year, Pennsylvania was collecting $1.05 billion in taxes from digital casinos, compared with $188 million from sportsbook apps. The revenue from casino games is significant: Pennsylvania’s entire state budget is about $50 billion

With "online casinos becoming unbelievably prevalent" there are a lot of sites out there that don't follow proper customer protection protocols, IRS Chief Guy Ficco said

"States are losing out by keeping this activity — that is already occurring within their borders — in the shadows.

BBB study finds consumers confused, upset amid hundreds of unlicensed and unverified casinos and sportsbooks

Virginia has vastly expanded gambling over the past few years, and another new form, iGaming, was debated at a committee hearing in Richmond Tuesday morning

While offshore gambling sites often claim to be safe and reputable, the truth is frequently the opposite. Beyond costing the industry billions, they also pose significant risks to players due to their questionable practices and lack of regulation