The state is considering giving the green light to sports betting and online poker
Hawaii State Senator Ronald D. Kouchi introduced a measure proposing legalizing online poker and sports betting on Wednesday with Senate Bill 3376.
Lawmakers have made previous attempts to authorize online poker and sports betting in Hawaii. However, this time, tax revenue generated from online gaming would be reserved for a new wildfire relief fund that’s also part of the bill. The bill would also create the new Hawaii Gaming Control Commission, as the government agency was never needed because all gambling is currently illegal under state law.
SB3376 would authorize only one provider to be licensed and given an online gaming monopoly, similar to other recent proposals.
Hawaii and Utah are the only two states with no forms of legal gambling. However, the reasons are much different. Utah’s bans on gaming are religion-based, while Hawaii sees gambling as a challenge to the tourism industry and the state projecting a family-friendly image.
As others have done previously, SB3376’s supporters will contend that one of the bill’s main objectives is to keep money gamblers spend in other states or unregulated offshore sites within Hawaii.
Senator Kouchi’s bill is still waiting to be assigned to a committee after two measures with online poker were introduced in 2023 but received sparse consideration. State Senators Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran and Angus L.K. McKelvey also proposed a bill, which was attached to a lottery-legalization measure that failed.
The previous proposal was to construct one casino-resort venue near Honolulu, which is only open to customers of a nearby hotel who come to the casino to gamble. It was sponsored by State Representatives Daniel Holt and John Mizuno and also failed to gain momentum.
At least six gambling bills have been proposed by lawmakers this year, with SB3376 the first seeking to legalize poker.
