The legalization of sports betting in Hawaii could be getting closer to approval. There have been a number of previous attempts to legalize sports betting, but they all failed. Many of them have died in the Senate. No other gambling bill has made it this far through the Legislature before.
The only two states in the U.S. that don’t have any form of legalized gambling at present are Utah and Hawaii. The new bill could change this. House Bill 1308 was approved by the Hawaii House of Representatives by a 35-15 margin.
House Bill 1308
House Bill 1308 would legalize online sports betting in Hawaii. The fine details regarding license fees and tax rates still have to be ironed out. The license fees and taxes on profits would go to gambling education and treatment. It would also fund illegal gambling enforcement.
At present, 30 different states in the U.S. offer legal online sports betting. The majority of states have made some moves toward allowing sports betting in one form or another. House Bill 1308 could pave the way for Hawaii to open up legal sports betting in 2025.
Most lawmakers agree that people will gamble whether it’s legal or not, and legalizing it can help with regulation. Putting responsible gambling measures in place assists problem gamblers.
Opponents of the bill
Social service organizations and law enforcement are opposed to the bill and testified in a number of hearings. Steve Alm, a Honolulu Prosecutor, is one of the leading opponents. He is worried about a generation of young men developing gambling problems.
The Attorney General’s office is another opponent and has issued written testimony in opposition to legalizing sports betting. It believes that lobbying efforts in Hawaii are being driven by out-of-state financial interests that could reap profits at the expense of Hawaiians.
Opponents are afraid of the consequences that legalizing online sportsbooks could unleash. It could provide more jobs in a good work environment and boost the economy, but opponents say consequences like more crime and financial problems for families outweigh the positives.
Native Hawaiians can benefit
Legalizing sports betting could have benefits for Hawaii’s economy. The chief administrator for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), Tyler Gomes, believes there would be enough revenue from sports betting for Native Hawaiian entities and organizations to benefit.
He was the point person when the Department of Hawaiian Homelands proposed a casino on its property a few years ago. Some Native Hawaiian leaders believe they should be first in line to benefit from legalizing sports betting. They have seen the benefits for Native Americans who own tribal casinos.
The CNHA is holding its next convention soon, and it could bid for an online gaming concession if the bill passes. Economic development opportunities and employment are central to its mission.
Amendments to the bill
The Senate Ways and Means Committee approved the bill and added some other safeguards to it. One was a ban on betting on youth sports, and another was that the state Department of Law Enforcement would administer it. The bill’s effective date is set on July 1, 2025. This gives the House time to accept the amendments without any more negotiations or conference committee hearings.
The Legislature’s session will end on May 2nd, and the approval of the governor isn’t assured yet. It could still be an uphill battle for the bill to pass through the Senate before the session ends. The odds may have improved, but there is no guarantee it will pass as there’s still strong opposition to it.