Hawaii sports betting legislation took an important leap Wednesday afternoon.
With an 11-2 vote, the Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced HB 1308, which would legalize Hawaii sports betting. The bill, which already passed the House by a 35-15 margin, now advances to the full Senate.
Earlier this year, the Ways and Means Committee killed a Senate gambling bill. If the latest bill passes the Senate, the House would need to approve newly added details.
There are no legal gambling options in Hawaii. The legislative session runs until May 2.
Hawaii Sports Betting Framework
When Rep. Daniel Holt introduced HB 1308, he included a 10% tax rate and $250,000 license fees. However, those were stripped in committee meetings to encourage further discussion.
In the bill’s final committee meeting before a full Senate vote, Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, added back the original figures.
The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement would be charged with regulating the industry. Holt’s proposal requires at least four online sports betting operators.
Governor Appears Ready For Sports Betting
Earlier this session, Gov. Josh Green said he “supports careful exploration of sports wagering in Hawaii, provided that proper safeguards are in place to prevent abuses.”
Multiple lawmakers throughout the process have voted yes with reservations, expressing similar concerns about safeguards.
Last week, Green talked to local media about proposals for gambling in the state, including casinos as part of the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, which he is neutral on. One legislative proposal is for a state-led “Gaming Working Group” to study legalized gambling in Hawaii.
Making Aloha State History
This is the farthest a sports betting bill has gone in Hawaii after never making it to a chamber floor. Lawmakers appear to be coming around to regulating a form of gambling that is already in the Aloha State.
Sen. Lynn DeCoite told a Senate committee hearing that regulations are needed to meet existing gambling concerns.
“I play games on my phone, and it always pops up that I can play bingo and win money, or I can play solitaire and win money,” Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said in an earlier Senate committee hearing. “It’s already there. I’m sure a lot of people are doing it already; it’s so easy.”
Opponents, including multiple state and municipal departments, often cite potential societal arms stemming from the industry.
