Hawaii Legislature

  • Hawaii has multiple gambling bills filed for the 2025 session including one focused solely on sports betting and another looking at creating an entire industry (casino, sportsbooks, DFS) from scratch.
  • This article focuses on Hawaii House Bill 1308, which would regulate online sportsbooks in Hawaii.

HONOLULUHawaii is making its strongest push yet to legalize online sports betting, with a House committee unanimously advancing a bill on Friday.

This measure, Hawaii HB 1308 could bring regulated wagering to the Aloha State. However, opposition from law enforcement and industry voices suggests the road to full legalization continues to remain uncertain.

A Long History of Failed Attempts

For decades, Hawaii has resisted efforts to introduce gambling, despite numerous legislative attempts. In the late 1990s, more than 30 bills were introduced to establish casinos, lotteries, or other forms of wagering, but none made it past lawmakers. In recent years, proposals have become more targeted, with an emphasis on online gambling. In 2022, two separate sports betting bills were introduced but failed to gain traction.

Now, momentum appears to be building. The House committee’s unanimous vote suggests a growing acceptance of the potential economic benefits, with lawmakers seeing sports betting as a way to regulate an already active offshore betting market and generate tax revenue.

Despite progress, the Honolulu Police Department remains firmly against legal Hawaii sports betting. Officers warn that gambling could bring unintended consequences, such as addiction, financial distress, and increased crime.

Interestingly, even Boyd Gaming, a major Las Vegas casino operator, has voiced skepticism, arguing that the amount of money bet on sports and the revenue generated may not be worth the potential social costs.

Governor Josh Green has cautiously backed the idea, recognizing that residents are already engaging in sports betting through unofficial channels. Supporters argue that a legal sports betting market would provide consumer protections and keep money within the state.

The House committee’s support marks a major step forward, but legalization is far from guaranteed. The bill must clear multiple legislative hurdles, and even if it passes, implementation could take years.

Online Casinos Also on the Table

Beyond sports betting, Hawaii lawmakers are considering another significant gambling expansion: legal online casinos. However, concerns over problem gambling and the lack of established oversight make its passage unlikely.

Still, Hawaii Senate Bill 1507 proposes a state-run iGaming system with Hawaiian-themed games catering to both residents and visitors.

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