Hawaii Tourism Group Assesses Benefits of Legalized Sports Betting
David Genge Published 31/08/2026
During its most recent meeting, the Hawaii Tourism and Gaming Working Group was assessing the costs and benefits of legalizing sports betting and other forms of gambling in the state. The meeting featured guest speakers who fall on both sides of the issue of legalizing gambling in Hawaii.
The group was looking at how other states are generating revenue through gaming. The group also sought input on how those systems are structured, regulated, and used to fund public needs. They were looking at how much revenue legalized gambling could generate for Hawaii. At the same time, assessments were being made on how that revenue could benefit Hawaii
Hawaii forbids all forms of gambling
There are only two U.S. states in which all forms of gambling are forbidden. Hawaii is one of them. There is no sports betting in the state. Casinos and the lottery are also against the law.
There is a movement afoot seeking to change that status. However, the pro-gambling forces aren't having much luck in gaining any traction.
Introduced in 2025, Hawaii House Bill 1308 (HB 1308) sought to legalize sports betting. It would have allowed for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Law Enforcement (DLE).
That bill ended up dying on the House floor in the spring of 2025.
Hawaii tourism group has questions about how it all works
Tourism is the major revenue generator in Hawaii. Could sports betting and other forms of legal and regulated gambling enhance Hawaii as a tourist destination? That's what the Hawaii Tourism and Gaming Working Group was seeking to get a handle on during a meeting earlier this month.
Speakers included Helene Keeley, director of the Delaware Lottery Office. That group regulates all sports betting in the state.
Brianne Doura-Schawohl, president and CEO of Doura-Schawohl Consulting LLC, also addressed sports betting, online gambling, and the concerns surrounding gambling-related harm.
In Delaware, BetRivers is the exclusive mobile and online sportsbook app available statewide. They work in partnership with the Delaware Lottery Office.
Keeley explained the benefits of going with this system when implementing sports betting.
"I have to tell you, and I really mean this in all sincerity," Keeley said. "DraftKings and FanDuel, and the Sports Betting Alliance, they want in on the act.
"Delaware decided to go with one vendor. We did that, and we have control over everything they do. We have control over their advertising; we have control over their media. And I believe that we did it right, because we do not see 24/7 a day advertising from the big guys, so to speak. If there's wording that we do not like in their advertising, we ask them to change it, and they do it right away. Because again, we are the regulator and operator at the same time."
Dangers of offshore online sports betting were also addressed
Doura-Schawohl and Jessica Welman of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling spoke to the dangers of unregulated offshore gambling sites that infiltrate states without regulated sports betting.
"The illegal market is growing, and we think this is quite concerning," Doura-Schawohl said.
Group member Paul Anderson of Boyd Gaming noted that not legalizing sports betting in Hawaii isn't necessarily keeping Hawaiians from betting on sports.
"The interesting take is ... it's happening no matter what," Anderson said. "Whether it's legal or not.
"The ones that don't have (regulated sports betting) aren't getting any of the upside."
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