Say Aloha to Legalized Sports Betting in Hawaii....Maybe

When it comes to gambling, Utah ranks as the least friendly state.  There is not even a state lottery.

Second is not South Carolina, Georgia or Texas.  It's actually Hawaii.

Remarkably, Hawaii is one of five U.S. states that does not have a lottery either.  The other three besides Utah are Alabama, Nevada and Alaska.

Along with Utah, Hawaii is the only other state that does not have any form of legalized commercial gambling. 

It is with this in mind we are left a bit perplexed that a sports betting bill is nearing legalization here.

Jessica Welman of SBC expressed shock that the bill has gotten as far as it has.

Well, I'll be damned, Hawaii sports betting just passed the Senate...

— Jessica Welman (@jesswelman) April 8, 2025

"So there are still a couple steps before this becomes law. Step 1: back to the House for concurrence since this bill passed w/o a tax rate and who oversees it changed. 2: If House approves, onto Josh Green for signature."

Rep. Daniel Holt introduced HB 1308, he included a 10% tax rate and $250,000 license fees.

"I hope for growing legalization as much as anyone but I gotta be honest..this taxation scheme and fee structure + the lack of infrastructure, it is entirely possible that the state nets zero dollars from sports betting, at least at first."

The bill continues to advance and now heads to the full senate for a vote.   Should it pass here, the house would be required to approve newly amended language. Gov. Josh Green would also need to sign off in order for sports betting to become law.

Earlier this session, Green said he “supports careful exploration of sports wagering in Hawaii, provided that proper safeguards are in place to prevent abuses.”

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has expressed interest in securing a license should the bill pass.

Opposition to legalized gambling in Hawaii comes from various groups that include government agencies like The Department of the Attorney General and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.  

Native Hawaiian organizations and some social service providers also have expressed apprehension over legalized gambling in Hawaii.

Time is not necessarily on the side of those looking to legalize sports gambling in Hawaii as that state's legislative period ends on May 2.