New bill seeks to legalize gambling in Hawaii
Hawaii is one of only two states in the U.S where gambling is prohibited, and new bills are looking to change that.
Several bills have been proposed since the beginning of 2025, mainly SB1569 and HB1308, that seek to make gambling a major source of revenue for the state.
SB1507 and its twin bill, HB1434, are the latest proposals brought forward, seeking to bring poker, casino and lotteries to Hawaii streets.
Senator Glenn Wakai has been a prominent voice supporting the bills, believing that introducing gambling could strengthen Hawaii’s economy.
Wakai said: “Considering that we kind of all joke in this community about how Las Vegas is the Ninth Island, this approach is to bring that Ninth Island back home, to bring the revenues back up, to bring the excitement of casino gaming to Hawaii.”
The new bill seeks to establish the “Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation for the purpose of conducting and regulating wagering and gaming in the State”.
The proposal seeks to establish a gambling regulator, the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission.
It also strives to create a Lottery and Gaming Special Fund through a 15% tax rate on gross receipts, where portions of the fund would be distributed for “various community betterment purposes”.
SB1569 would bring 20-year-long licenses to casinos situated in the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and Hawaii Convention Center and would grant regulatory authority to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Hawaii isn’t the first country to consider revisiting its gambling laws, as other states such as Ohio have considered legalizing betting in the past year.
Why does Hawaii want gambling legalized?Hawaii is the latest state to explore gambling as a potential source of revenue, following the example of other locations such as Nebraska.
Gambling is being pushed in Hawaii in light of Donald Trump’s election. Senators are looking for alternative means to cover lost revenue as the Trump administration advocates for funding cuts.
On a Facebook post, Wakai said: “President Trump is dismantling the Dept of Education and will cut billions from military spending. Hawaii will need to start filling in the gaps. I refuse to raise taxes. Instead, I am going to roll the dice.”
It is also motivated by the growing trend of Hawaii inhabitants traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada, otherwise referred to as the ‘ninth island’, for gambling. The proposed changes would encourage Hawaii tourists and residents to spend money within the state.
Though the notion of bringing gambling to Hawaii has been met with criticism, concerned that it may result in an increased number of gambling addiction cases.
Senator Brenton Awa said: “[To] All of the people who are going to spend their paycheck every couple of weeks with that hope of trying to win, it’s known that when you have access easily to lose your money, you’re probably [going to] lose your money if you’re not disciplined.”
Featured Image: Photo by Cosmin Serban on Unsplash
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