Those in Hawaii Want to Know: 'Where Can I Bet This Year's Kentucky Derby Online?'

Written by :

Don Shapiro

Published on :

1 May, 2026

Hawaii is among the least gambling-friendly states in the U.S.
There are still a handful of sites that accept bets on this year's Kentucky Derby there

If you happen to be in Hawaii this weekend, the Kentucky Derby celebration kicks off late morning with the actual race starting a little after 12:30 pm local time.

Outside of Utah, Hawaii remains the least friendly gambling state. There are no horse racing tracks.

For years, those in Hawaii have relied on internationally-licensed (offshore) gambling sites that still accept bets from those in the "Aloha State" online like BetOnline. We actually had the pleasure of visiting the BetOnline offices when they first opened in 1999, and since then the company has grown to become one of the largest in the world.

Hawaii is explicitly listed among states where you cannot use TwinSpires for online wagering. The same holds true for nearly all of the big name U.S.-based horse betting sites.

Lawmakers in Hawaii have proposed legislation to allow sports betting to be regulated in the state, but such measures have failed to get very far.

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have entered the Hawaii market, much to the dismay of lawmakers here. Neither is taking bets on this year's Kentucky Derby however.