Hawaii To Once Again Consider Sports Betting Bill

Hawaii is one of two U.S. states that prohibit all forms of gambling. However, that situation could be about to change.

Senate Bill 3303 (SB 3303), introduced by Senator Dru Kanuha, would legalize mobile and online sports betting in the Aloha State. There would be no physical sportsbooks, nor would there be any betting kiosks situated anywhere in the state. Sports betting would be 100% digital.

Under the terms of SB 3303, the state would be tasked with licensing at least six sports betting sites. The fee to acquire a license would be $500,000. That would grant each site a five-year operating licence. There is no maximum set on the number of sportsbook licenses that could be issued in Hawaii.

Sports betting in Hawaii would be regulated by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism would be authorized to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering.

The government would receive a 15% tax on adjusted gross sports wagering revenue. That would be the total handle wagered, minus all player winnings and canceled bets.

Among the conditions all licensees must meet will be mandatory geolocation controls, anti-money laundering measures, problem gambling safeguards, including a statewide voluntary exclusion program, and identity verification software to ensure protection against underage gambling.

Wagering on youth sports and all college sports involving schools based in Hawaii would be prohibited. If SB 3303 is passed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026. The official launch of sports betting would be within 180 days of that date. That would mean the last possible date for the launch to take place would be December 28, 2026.

SB 3303 also includes provisions for the legalization of daily fantasy sports in Hawaii.

The bill has yet to be assigned to a committee for further consideration.

Hawaii came close to legalizing sports betting in 2025

State lawmakers came ever so close to pushing the legalization of sports betting in Hawaii across the finish line in 2025.

Both House Bill 1308 and companion bill Senate Bill 1569 sought to legalize sports betting in the state. The bill reached the conference committee stage. However, no agreement on moving forward with the bill could be reached before the end of the state legislative session.

At the time, Hawaii Governor Josh Green had indicated that he would not veto any sports betting bill that reached his desk.

Representative Daniel Holt, the sponsor of HB 1308, took the close call in stride, seeing it as a positive step toward eventual legalization of sports betting in Hawaii.

“We put our best effort forward,” Holt told Hawaii News Now. “We got it very far, this deep into conference, but it seems as if we have not come to an agreement on details: the tax amount, who would operate, would house the operation of the sports betting and give out the license and licensing fees.”

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