Fancy placing a bet in the Paradise of the Pacific? Unfortunately, the State of Hawaii broadly prohibits gambling. At Compare.bet, we’ve got all the information you need when it comes to gambling laws in Hawaii — read on below!
Legality of Gambling in Hawaii
Although it’s possible to gamble in some form in nearly all states in the country, Hawaii isn’t one of them. Most forms of gambling are illegal, with the law specifically prohibiting prohibit wagering on horse or dog races and gambling aboard ships or in casinos. Hawaii law defines gambling as risking something of value on the outcome of a contest of chance or uncontrollable future event in order to receive something of value.
With the repeal of PASPA allowing legalization of sports betting at the state level, many states moved to allow this particular gambling activity — Hawaii, however, did not. It’s also one of just six states that does not permit the sale of lottery tickets, although residents may buy tickets for other state lotteries as long as they’re not in Hawaii at the time. Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is also banned in Hawaii and has been since 2019.
The one exception to the rule is social gambling, which is permitted provided it doesn’t take place in business establishments or public places, such as hotels, bars, and nightclubs.
So, could we ever see gambling legalized in the Aloha State? The possibility is certainly on the cards. House Bill 1962 was introduced in January 2022, which requires the Hawaiian government to examine the benefits and risks of legalizing gambling. With approximately 500,000 Hawaiians reported to visit Las Vegas every year in order to gamble, there’s certainly a good argument for legalization — taxes collected on gambling revenue could prove highly beneficial to the state. Of course, there is also much opposition focused on the potential dangers legalizing gambling could bring.
For now, legal gambling in Hawaii remains up for debate. At Compare.bet, you can trust us to keep you up to date with any changes in legislation.
