House approval sees Hawaii move a step closer to legalizing sports betting

With House Bill 1308 passing through house committees in Hawaii, the prospect of legalized online sports betting in the Aloha State moved a step closer. 

It wasn’t a unanimous approval as some lawmakers expressed reservations and 15 “no” votes were cast, but this is the first time such a bill has passed the house after several previous failed attempts. 

HB 1308 was sponsored by Representative Dan Holt, who has carried previous betting bills, assisted by Reps. Darius Kila and Chris Todd. 

Overall, a 35-15 vote was recorded, moving the proposal forward, and if it is passed and enshrined in law, Hawaii would become the 39th U.S. state to approve sports betting.

Technically, sportsbook activity is legal at present in Hawaii, but there are no legal platforms to place a bet online or on mobile, nor are there any physical venues to bet on sports outcomes. 

The 50th U.S. state is set apart from many others with its absence of tribal or commercial casinos, lottery games, and fantasy sports, in addition to sports betting. 

That situation could be set to change with HB1308 now on its way to the Hawaii’s senate for consideration.

Last month in Minnesota, a third bill was presented for the introduction of sportsbooks, but it has suffered a setback in the Senate.

In the run-up to the vote, some lawmakers opposing the bill stressed dissent at the prospect of local money moving to out-of-state operators, while others voiced concern on the prospect of gambling harm.

One lawmaker is said to have remarked that state revenue gained from sports betting would be “dirty” money.

Rep. Holt believes this time is different and he appears to be onto something with the house assent. 

The current proposal would see the introduction of digital betting platforms but no brick-and-mortar establishments offering sportsbooks in Hawaii.

A 10% tax rate and $250,000 application fee framework have already been dismissed by the house finance committee, but those terms could end up being determined by a regulator. 

With similar digital-only sports betting legislation moving forward in Georgia this week, the Peach State is contemplating a 24% tax rate. 

Hawaii’s Representative Sue L Keohokapu-Lee Loy told a house committee sitting that the licence fee “appears rather low for an industry that makes billions of dollars. I would love to see that licence fee go up exponentially.”

Image credit: Via Midjourney

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