Guest editorial: Virginia’s big gamble on sports betting hasn’t paid out as promised

There are more than 30 states that allow sports gambling. The New York Times spent a year investigating the rapid expansion of the industry. It found that the lobbyists influence the decision-making process. Some states let the gambling industry guide them on consumer protections. Virginia allowed the betting industry to give away hundreds of millions of dollars in tax-free bets. As of July 1, the state legislature ended the exemption. The state's tax revenues from sports betting went up by 63%. It was due to the new tax on free-bet promotions. In the budget approved early in 2022, state lawmakers wisely ended that exemption as of January 1.