Hawaii has the chance to get sports betting right by following the example of many mainland states in creating a strictly regulated and transparent sports betting market that can provide revenue for the state and protections for players.

Hawaii became the surprise of the legislative season as a sports betting bill advanced past the House on Tuesday. Lawmakers passed House Bill 1308 on Tuesday by a 35-15 vote. It’s the farthest a Hawaii sports betting bill has made it in the Aloha State.

On the eve of Super Bowl week, Hawaii lawmakers are taking serious look at legalizing online sports betting. Supporters say taxes on the business could be used to pay for gambling addiction programs and a crackdown on illegal betting.

Legal gaming is one of the most regulated industries in the U.S., and the industry itself invests heavily in responsible gaming initiatives to ensure that participants can engage in this activity positively.

“The gambling frenzy is mostly about people being free to enjoy themselves”