Hawaii Sports Betting

Editor’s note: As of Jan. 13, 2021

The word Aloha is said as hello and goodbye when you are in Hawaii.

And pretty much any gambling proposal even whispered about in the 50th state usually hears both sides of that word.

Hawaii, like Utah, has long shown a strong conviction of no gambling allowed. There are no casinos or horse tracks, no state lottery or even charity bingo. Online gaming and fantasy sports, too, have been turned away.

As a matter of fact, two 60-year-old bettors were fined in July for placing wagers with an alleged bookie in 2015, according to the Maui News.

So, imagine every gambling expert’s surprise when a bill to create the Hawaii Sports Wagering Corporation was introduced in the state legislature in January 2019.

HB 1107’s intended purposed was to build “a regulated, secure, and responsible framework for the conduct of sports wagering in Hawaii.”

This proposal got as far as a committee that amended it to create a task force to study “the feasibility of legalized sports gambling” in the state.

A variant of the bill, HCR109, creating an official task force passed the state House, was sent to the state Senate and is now in the hands of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee.

HB 1107 and SB 2571 both died in their respective committees meaning that there is no expected breakthrough on this issue at any point in the near future.

So, for now, head to Hawaii for surfing, sand and sun – and not sports betting.

Is sports betting currently legal in the state?

No. The only legislation under consideration will study the prospects of betting, so, it will be a while.