Hawaii maintains gambling prohibition, ban to persist until 2025
It's a bummer, huh? Hawaii's dream for internet sports gambling legalization is once again delayed, after House Bill 1308 failed to make it through a legislative meeting last Friday. Talk about a letdown!
During the joint conference committee gathering, the commitment to passing the bill came to a grinding halt, putting a damper on the Aloha State's plans for official sports betting. And with the legislative session closing in early May, any hopes for regulated sports wagers this year have pretty much evaporated.
One of the bill's proponents, Rep. Greggor Ilagan, wasn't too downcast about the situation, though. He believes that, despite the setback, there's still a chance for sports gambling to make its way into Hawaii laws in the future. He indicated that next year might bring a revamped bill with renewed potential.
The House Bill 1038, which provided a peek into the potential sports betting landscape in the Aloha State, offered the promise of a welcoming environment for both operators and consumers. The bill aimed to generate revenue via a 10% tax on gross gaming revenues, along with a $250,000 license fee for each license holder.
Naturally, the bill didn't sit well with everyone. Members such as Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Police Chief Arthur Logan, and Prosecutor Steve Alm teamed up to issue a joint statement, urging lawmakers to reconsider legalizing internet gambling. In their statement, they referred to the practice as a "predatory activity."
On the other hand, supporters of regulating sports betting argue that the taxes generated from a legal, regulated industry could provide valuable funding for addressing budget concerns. They also contend that, given that gambling already occurs (albeit without regulation) and contributes to harmful behavior, implementing regulations would at least offer support for those battling gambling addiction.
So there you have it. The push for legal sports betting in Hawaii remains an uphill battle, with numerous obstacles standing in the way. Keep your fingers crossed that the next attempt will hit the mark and bring exciting new betting opportunities to the local scene!
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Enrichment Data:- In 2025, Hawaii's efforts to legalize internet sports gambling through House Bill 1308 were unsuccessful. However, the bill had passed the Senate and initially the House, but ultimately faced major hurdles, with disagreements between the House and Senate versions leading to the bill's dismissal for 2025.- Governor Josh Green indicated support for the bill, but only if it included regulations for gambling addiction services.- Opposition to the bill came from local government departments, criticism of lawmakers for being self-interested, confusion over regulatory responsibilities, national operators seen as outsiders, cultural and social concerns about gambling, and legislative inconsistency.- The failure to legalize sports gambling is partly due to the state's lack of existing gambling infrastructure, historical cultural values against gambling, and concerns about social harms such as problem gambling.
The unsuccessful passage of House Bill 1308 in Hawaii has once again delayed the dream of legalizing internet sports gambling, a setback that echoes through the Aloha State's plans for licensed sports betting.
With the legislative session closing in early May and House Bill 1308 discarded, chances for legalized sports wagers this year are virtually nonexistent, leaving a void in the burgeoning sports-betting landscape.
Next year may hold renewed potential for sports gambling legislation, as Rep. Greggor Ilagan believes there's a possibility for the practice to find its way into Hawaii's gambling laws, even with the bill's recent failure.
Meanwhile, operators and consumers eager for a welcoming regulatory environment in casino-and-gambling ventures will have to wait, as disagreements between the Senate and House versions of the bill proved critical to its dismissal in 2025.
Despite opposition from local government officials who view internet gambling as predatory, proponents of regulating sports betting argue that tax revenue generated from a legal and controlled industry could provide crucial funding for addressing budget concerns, while also offering support for those battling gambling addiction.
