Is Gambling Legal In Hawaii

4/13/2022

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Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii
Is Sports Betting Legal In Hawaii
Hawaii Gambling Laws
Is Gambling Legal In Hawaii State

Hawaii is currently one of two states (Utah) that has no option to do any gambling at all in the United States. Hawaii's gambling laws may ban land-based gambling, but they are not actually making it a crime to gamble online, as far as we can tell. However, this is seen more as a geographical issue than a legislation issue, getting caught gambling in Hawaii is a punishable legal offence and could lead to jail time. The punishment can become more severe based on the amount, the type of wagering, and if it is happening for a personal profit. Gambling Laws in Hawaii. Gambling is illegal in the state of Hawaii. There are no exceptions to this law at the moment, and the ban includes all forms of casino games, sports betting, lotteries, poker and fantasy sports. You will see that poker itself is legal within the state, but no bets are allowed to be placed on the outcome, and the game must not be played for money. Is Online Gambling Legal In Hawaii. Legal Gambling Is online gambling legal in the USA? Is Online Gambling Legal In.? Is online gambling legal in Hawaii? Hawaii is one of the most desired vacation destinations in the country. Although it is surrounded by bodies of water, they are still subject to the same laws when it comes to gambling.

When it comes to state gambling laws, it doesn’t get much simpler than Hawaii. They don’t allow it in any form.

Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii

So it should come as no surprise that sports betting is not legal in Hawaii at the moment.

The Aloha State has had a long history of anti-gambling laws, stretching back more than six decades. In recent years attempts were made to allow online poker and online casinos in the state but these ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Gambling has never been a part of the state’s history, nor has it ever been seriously considered. Part of that has to do with the culture, as well as the successful tourism industry that dominates the political conversation.

So what do you do if you’re a sports bettor in Hawaii? Where can you place a legal bet? And will the current laws ever change?

This page is your complete guide to sports betting laws in Hawaii and on it, you can find everything you need to know. We’ll dig into the island state’s history of gambling, the current situation regarding sports betting and whether Hawaiians can expect anything to change in the wake of the landmark US Supreme Court decision of 2018 that opens the door for legal sports gambling all over the United States.

For more information on what’s happening all over the country, read our state guides to US sports betting laws.

The Current Online Sports Betting Situation in Hawaii

The current gambling situation in Hawaii is as cut and dry as it gets and it’s pretty grim. All kinds of gambling, including online sports betting, is fully prohibited and illegal. The only way people in Hawaii can bet on sports is by using unregulated offshore casinos and sportsbooks and that doesn’t come without risks.

Since these companies are based in other countries and not subject to US law or regulations, players frequently run into problems resolving disputes. If you have a problem with a deposit or withdrawal, or with your account, there is little recourse beyond crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.

We suggest waiting for legal options which, unfortunately, may take some time to make their debut in Hawaii.

Hawaii is one of two states (Utah being the other) that strictly prohibits gambling, including daily fantasy sports, racetracks and all types of sports betting. Additionally, the state doesn’t allow tribal casinos, charitable gaming, or any kind of casino gambling. Hawaii doesn’t even have a state lottery.

While recent federal legislation has opened the door for Hawaii to legalize sports betting in the state, the current outlook isn’t great.

The History of Online Sports Betting in Hawaii

Since the state’s inception in 1959, gambling has been illegal in Hawaii. Occasionally some momentum gets drummed up about opening a casino or legalizing online gambling, but no bill ever makes it far enough to be strongly considered.

In earlier times, when the Hawaii islands were first discovered in the late 18th century, gambling was popular amongst the residents and played yearly at a festival called Makahiki. However, just a few decades later, American missionaries arrived and decided to ban gambling in all forms for moral reasons. Since then the state has maintained its prohibitive stance on in-state gambling law and feels any changes to it might negatively impact their booming tourist industry.

In 2010 and 2011 Hawaii considered, but ultimately denied two casino-related changes. First, they discussed opening a land-based casino in Waikiki. Then they debated legalizing poker by virtue of defining it a game of skill rather than chance and therefore not gambling.

Just this year, in May of 2018, Hawaii and every other state in the US was given a huge opportunity to legalize sports gambling.

The US Supreme Court found in favor of New Jersey in their lawsuit to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. PASPA had been in place since 1992 and banned sports gambling in all states with the main exception of Nevada.

When SCOTUS repealed PASPA, each state was given the authority to decide their own rules for governing sports betting within their jurisdiction. Many states have already moved towards legalization with a handful already accepting legal bets.

For Hawaii, however, it may take some time to see any changes. One motivating factor may come in the form of other states earning large amounts of tax revenue after legalizing it.

Which Online Sports Betting Sites Are Legal in Hawaii?

Hawaiian gamblers do not have access to any legal sports betting sites. Their only option is to wager through offshore betting sites that accept players from the United States.

While betting with these sites isn’t technically illegal, it is risky. Offshore casinos and sportsbooks aren’t regulated by the US which can be a big problem if you run into any issues. Like we said before, even though legal gambling in Hawaii is a long way off, waiting is still preferable to putting your money and personal information at risk.

So, if you want to bet on NFL football, for example, Hawaii’s definitely not the place to be.

What Sports Can You Bet on Online in Hawaii?

As of now, there are no sports you can bet on legally online within the state of Hawaii.

However, if sports betting does become legalized in the future in the state of Hawaii, it would presumably be offered just like it is in every other state, with players having the option to bet on dozens of amateur and professional sports.

Should we ever see Hawaii reverse their political viewpoints on gambling it is likely that the main draw for sports betting would come from their passionate collegiate sports following and fan base.

Is There No Deposit Sports Betting in Hawaii?

Given that online sports betting is still technically illegal within the state, the issue of no deposit betting is currently moot. However, in the event that online sports betting becomes legal, Hawaiians can expect a similar approach to what other states are currently offering.

No deposit bonuses are a way to make bets without risking a cent but they usually come with conditions. Sometimes you have to bet the money a certain number of times before you can withdraw it. Other times you’re limited to what kinds of bets you can make and finally, it’s standard to only be able to withdraw your profits, not the original free bet.

What Is the Future of Online Sports Betting in Hawaii?

Gamblers in Hawaii shouldn’t expect any immediate changes to the laws that have been in place since the state formed all the way back in 1959. That being said, even with the state’s current attitude towards gambling, and with no current pressure for anything to change right now, history has shown that there is interest in gambling on the islands.

As more and more states begin to enter the world of legalized sports gambling, we might see the more conservative states like Hawaii change their tune.

If anything does change in Hawaii it will most likely occur after several others take the plunge and test the waters both economically and politically. They will likely follow Utah’s lead to see if they decide to consider the change.

To stay up to date on sports betting laws in Hawaii, make sure to check back on this page for the latest developments.

What This Means For You

At least in the short term, it doesn’t look good for sports betting or any other kind of gambling to become legal in Hawaii. With so much focus on tourism, no professional sports team and a relatively small population, the potential profits from legalized sports betting aren’t as attractive as other, bigger states.

For gamblers of Hawaii, life just goes on. In spite of an opportunity to now legalize gambling and begin collecting state tax revenue, Hawaii has shown no inkling to stray from its course, at least not yet. Getting a professional sports team may be the only way serious momentum could be created to bring this issue to a vote, but that still remains unlikely.

We’ll continue to monitor the situation and update this page with any big developments, whether they help or hurt Hawaii’s chances of getting legal sports gambling.

Hawaii is a kind of paradise in many ways, but not when it comes to gambling laws. In fact, the island state, last to join the US, is pretty late joining the gambling party too, and is in fact one of only two states to offer absolutely no state regulated forms of gambling whatsoever, sharing this dubious privilege only with Utah.

The Aloha State also has pretty strict laws punishing gambling activity, with no legal options under the law at all except social home games. There are no exemptions for charity gambling under the law in Hawaii. There are no race tracks. There is no state lottery. There are no real money games, even social, allowed in bars or other public venues, and no licensed online activity. Even casino ships are not allowed to operate in and out of state ports. Your options are narrower than Amarillo Slim around here.

The Letter of the Law

The law states in no uncertain terms that gambling is not permitted in Hawaii. Gambling is defined as risking something of value in a contest of chance, and a contest of chance is defined as any game in which chance plays a material role, regardless of whether skill is also involved.

The only express exemption which exists under Hawaiian law is a concession allowing social home gaming under certain strict provisions. These include a proviso that players must be competing on a level playing field, and that no wagering is done by non-players, or by any means other than the mechanisms of the game itself (so no side betting). Furthermore, the house or host must receive no rake or other consideration for running the game, for example by virtue of selling drinks to players.

The game in question must not be a form of book-keeping, so sport betting is out. The players must all be of legal age, and the event must be in a truly private space such as a home, and not in a public place such as a beach or a park, nor a venue such as a bar, hotel or restaurant.

A range of bills proposing extension, or more accurately, creation of state regulated gambling have been brought forward, but so far none of these have gained much traction in the state legislature, mostly being listed as “failed upon adjournment”.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Hawaii?

What with the forest fire of political change viz a viz gambling in mainland US spreading slowly but surely across many state lines, ignited by New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, one might wonder if the spark might leap across the water to Hawaii. So far, there have been a few fitful flames but nothing has taken hold and really burned.

The latest bill to doggy paddle in the senate is SB 768, proposing a Hawaii lottery and gaming corporation for the regulation of online gambling. This was introduced in January 2013 but shows no signs of getting anywhere at this time.

The full bill can be viewed here [1], for anyone interested in torturing themselves with a lot of legal language that is sadly unlikely to become enshrined in actual law. The bill proposes that most of the revenue from said gaming be channeled into education, and problem gambling support.

State legislators just don’t see support for such bills in the house, or in the general population. With over 30 bills on this subject currently seeking attention [2], it seems unlikely that any of them will actually reach the Governor’s desk.

As this recent poll from a local newspaper [3] suggests, the majority of residents seem to be opposed to bringing in land-based casinos to Hawaii, while there’s a fairly even split on attitudes towards casino ships and a state lottery.

A recent study into the likely impact of casinos on Hawaii [4] concludes that for every $64 of benefit to the economy, there would be an estimated $289 in social costs. The report also notes, fairly damningly, that a casino’s presence is empirically proven to lead to higher rates of “serious crime including rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft.”

The local press tend to support an active debate on this subject, with proponents given equal space to voice their views in this 2002 edition of the Star Bulletin [5], and a more recent article featuring public comments run in 2011 by Honolulu’s Civil Beat [6].

Forms of Gambling Legalized in the State of Hawaii

Honestly, your best bet is to head down the beach, enjoy life, and then head over to Vegas on vacation. If that’s just not good enough, you have a very few options open to you within the law.

Poker Games

Your main option is going to be social home poker games. Just be sure not to attend a game in a bar or on a beach, but only in a genuinely private location. If the house isn’t taking any consideration, you should be acting within the law in playing.

There are a number of resources for tracking these games, including two dedicated home poker websites with links to individual games in Hawaii.

A local version of the same initiative can be found here [7], known as the Waikele Poker Players’ Group. A regular free roll event run online for Hawaii players is called the Hawaii Poker Championship, and the site for this outfit can be found here [8].

Despite the apparently high production values, a Hawaii TV show which aired in 2010 called “Hawaii’s Big Deal”[9] running televised satellites to the WSOP only ran for one series. Perhaps someone should try to revive this show, and bring some more positive poker publicity to the islands.

Your final option which seems to be within the law is to hire a “casino party” company, who will come and fill your private party with Vegas-accurate gambling equipment, which of course you are explicitly only allowed to run play money games on. Any use of such equipment for real gambling is naturally totally against the law.

Casino Ships

You’d think, as in some other tightly regulated states for gambling, that there might be some cruise ships one could sail out on into international waters to take part in some gambling. But you would be sadly mistaken.

According to Hawaii Revised Statute 712-1222.5 (2009) quoted in this document by Gaming Law Masters , “Managing, supervising, controlling, operating, or owning, either alone or in association with others, any craft which embarks from any point within the State, and disembarks at the same or another point within the State, during which the person intentionally causes or knowingly permits gambling activity to be conducted, whether within or without the waters of the State…” is, you guessed it, illegal.

So it’s no-go on casino ships too, unless they’re passing through Hawaii, picking up people from the islands, and then heading out into international waters, and dropping off visitors at some other location out-of-state. This is hardly likely, or convenient! For those still interested in pursuing this remote possibility, a couple of discussions on the subject can be found on cruise liner websites here [10] and here [11].

Busts And Arrests

Of course in a state with such very strict suppression of gambling, there’s a pretty active underground which has seen a peppering of significant busts across recent years.

Let’s start things off with this kid’s Youtube video [12] of a visit to an underground casino in Hawaii, which apart from the amusing advice he exchanges with his friend about changing games because they’ve “already won a couple of times” on a given virtual slot, does illustrate that the underground casino industry is active, although the footage doesn’t really suggest it to be thriving. The machine in question took dollar bills, and the footage was uploaded in June 2013.
Arcade employees are regularly arrested and machines seized in busts such as this series of arrests [13] which took place in Aiea, Kalihi and Keeaumoku in February of 2013.

Depressing stories do exist such as this piece in Civil Beat [14], which interviews teenagers who think they are “learning” to beat slot machines, which obviously generally have a large house edge and are unbeatable and unskilful forms of gaming. The proprietors claim that the games in this article are “skill based”, but no clear evidence is put forward in this document for such claims.

Of most concern to those interested in online wagering, there has been an increasing trend across Hawaii for busting individuals for online gambling, principally focused on sports betting. In some cases such as that of Terrence Ching, the arrest is for book-making and placing online bets on behalf of numerous other individuals, while in other cases, individuals who simply got very lucky online [15] have found the police rapping on their door.

Summary of Hawaii State Gambling Laws

If you’re looking to gamble within the law in Hawaii, you have very few real options open to you.

You can partake in home poker games which stay within the provisions laid out for them under the law, most importantly that no house rake or consideration is taken. To find these games, consult the home poker networks and discussions listed above.

You may be able to play certain skill-based amusement machines run in the state, but it’s far from clear how long these will survive under the law, or whether they truly qualify as skill games.

You can run a “Vegas style” casino party with strictly no real money wagering allowed, and play to your hearts’ content with play money.

Is Sports Betting Legal In Hawaii

That’s about your lot.

So if you’re in Hawaii and want to gamble, aside from home games your best bet is really to head for the mainland, at least for a little while. The beaches will still be here when you get back.

Hawaii Gambling Laws

Sources for this article