Hawaii moves forward in bid for legal sports betting
Hawaii lawmakers advanced a bill to legalise sports wagering on Wednesday, while a separate proposal to permit cruise ship gambling stalled in committee, underscoring the Legislature’s ongoing debate over the state’s long-standing prohibition on gambling.
House Bill 2570 passed the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology by a narrow 4–3 vote, with the measure seeking to distinguish sports wagering and fantasy sports contests from traditional gambling by specifying they should not be considered contests of chance. The bill would also apply Hawaii’s general excise tax to sports wagering operator licenses. Its Senate companion, Senate Bill 3303, remains active.
While sports betting is very popular in Hawaii, there are some vocal critics of legalising the industry, who say it disproportionately impacts poorer people. These critics include City of Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm, who told the committee it was more trouble than it was worth, mentioning scandals in the NBA and Major League Baseball.
In contrast, House Bill 1945, which would authorize gaming on cruise ships in state waters and during specified docking periods, was deferred after being referred to three committees, a move often signaling limited prospects.
Other gambling-related measures remain in play, including Senate Bill 3268 to establish a Hawaii Gaming Control Commission and authorise a single casino license, while HB 2198 advances a ban on online prediction markets.
The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement is on record saying the illegal offshore gambling industry is worth 700 million to $800 million annually.
