- There were three new gambling bills in Hawaii proposed by legislators in the state.
- The Hawaiian legislators also carried over four gambling bills from 2025 to consider this year.
- In total, seven gambling bills are active in Hawaii.
HONOLULU – Three new gambling bills have been filed in Hawaii in 2026. There are also four carryover bills from 2025 regarding gambling that Hawaiian legislators will look at.
What are the Pending Gambling Bills in Hawaii?
- HB 1945 (2026): Would allow regulated casino gambling on cruise ships that are in Hawaiian waters. The bill would not allow legal sports betting on cruise ships in Hawaii, although bettors could continue using online sports betting sites.
- HB 2198 (2026): This bill would specifically define prediction markets such as Kalshi, Polymarket, and Coinbase as illegal for gambling in Hawaii.
- HB 2222 (2026): Authorizes the establishment of the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission to regulate a single proposed Honolulu casino. The bill requires that applicants for the single casino pay a $1 million non-refundable application fee. The chosen applicant would then pay a $5,000 annual license fee. The license would expire after 20 years. Slots and table games would be allowed at the casino.
- HB 1308 (2025): This bill, which nearly passed in 2025 before falling just short of the finish line over tax and regulatory issues, would establish legal sports betting sites in Hawaii that are regulated locally.
- SB 893 (2025): Would legalize casinos in the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and Hawai’i Convention Center. The new casinos would get 20-year licenses. The bill does not change anything in Hawaii regarding legal online casinos, which would still only be available via offshore websites.
- HB 1434 and SB 1507 (Companion bills from 2025): These two bills would establish the Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The corporation would conduct and regulate online and in-person gambling in Hawaii.
Which Proposed Gambling Law in Hawaii has the Best Chance at Passing?
The gambling bill in Hawaii that has the best chance at passing in 2026 is likely HB 1308, which is a carryover bill from 2025.
HB 1308, which would establish legal sports betting in the state, has the best chance of passing this year because it nearly passed last year. The bill had bipartisan support, but fell apart at the very end due to disputes over the tax rate and regulatory structure.
If passed, locally-regulated sports betting sites in Hawaii would likely launch in 2027.
The typical turnaround in other states with sports betting is roughly a year, which is likely what Hawaiians could expect if HB 1308 makes it over the finish line this cycle.HI
