Sports Betting Laws in Hawaii: Is It Legal in 2025?

Quick Answer: Is Sports Betting Legal in Hawaii?

No. Sports betting is illegal in Hawaii in 2025. This applies to retail sportsbooks, online sportsbooks, and mobile apps. There are no licensed operators, tribal casinos, state lottery, or legal pathway to place a sports wager anywhere in the state.

Hawaii and Utah are the only two states maintaining a blanket prohibition on virtually all forms of gambling. The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 584 U.S. 453 (2018), struck down the federal ban on state-authorized sports betting, granting states the right to legalize. Hawaii has not exercised that right; no legislation has passed, and no ballot measure has been put to voters.

Using an offshore sportsbook from Hawaii is also illegal under state law. Hawaii Revised Statutes apply to placing a wager within the state, irrespective of where the site is licensed or hosted.

The one legal option for Hawaii residents is to travel to Nevada, New Jersey, or any of the 38-plus states with legal sports betting and place a wager there in person or through a geolocation-verified app. Once physically in a legal state, betting is permissible, even for Hawaii residents.

Hawaii Gambling Statutes: What the Law Says

Hawaii's prohibition is codified in its criminal code with specific definitions and penalty tiers.

How the Law Defines Gambling

Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 712-1220, "gambling" means staking or risking something of value on a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person's control or influence, based on an agreement that someone will receive something of value upon a certain outcome. Sports wagering falls within this definition.

The same section defines "bookmaking" as professionally accepting bets from others on any sporting event or contest.

Criminal Penalties

The penalty structure under HRS §§ 712-1221 through 712-1223 establishes a tiered system:

Consult the Hawaii Attorney General's office for current enforcement posture and prosecutorial guidance on offshore wagering.

No Tribal Gaming Carve-Out

Hawaii has no federally recognized Native Hawaiian tribes with gaming compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. While Native Hawaiian organizations exist with federal recognition for other purposes, no entity has a compact authorizing casino or sports betting operations.

Federal Law Context

The Wire Act (18 U.S.C. § 1084) prohibits using wire communications to transmit bets or wagering information across state lines. Hawaii's statutes apply to the act of placing a wager within the state, even if an offshore sportsbook routes transactions outside the US.

Recent Legislative Attempts to Legalize Sports Betting in Hawaii

Legislators have introduced sports wagering bills in multiple consecutive sessions, none reaching a floor vote.

2023 Session Bills

HB 344 (2023 Regular Session) proposed a sports wagering licensing framework for operators and suppliers. The House Committee on Economic Development & Technology recommended the measure be deferred, and it did not advance (OpenStates, HB 344, 2023 Hawaii Regular Session).

SB 1109 (2023 Regular Session) was the companion Senate bill, also relating to sports wagering licensing. It was referred to the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Technology/Judiciary and Commerce, and Ways and Means. No further action was recorded (OpenStates, SB 1109, 2023 Hawaii Regular Session). The provided source material does not include fiscal notes for these bills; consult the Hawaii State Legislature's bill status system at capitol.hawaii.gov for any fiscal analysis documents.

2022 Session Bills

HB 1973 (2022 Regular Session) proposed a sports wagering licensing structure for operators and suppliers. It was referred to the House Committees on Economic Development and Consumer Protection/Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, and Finance, but did not advance (OpenStates, HB 1973, 2022 Hawaii Regular Session).

HB 1815 (2022 Regular Session) proposed an online sports wagering corporation model, a state-run or state-chartered entity approach. It was re-referred to the same committee chain and stalled (OpenStates, HB 1815, 2022 Hawaii Regular Session).

HB 2040 and SB 2365 (2022 Regular Session) were broader gaming bills proposing a Hawaii Lottery and Gambling Corporation and an associated special fund. HB 2040 was referred to ECD, CPC/JHA, and Finance. SB 2365 was referred to JDC and WAM. Neither advanced (OpenStates, 2022 Hawaii Regular Session).

Why Bills Fail

Bills consistently face referral to multiple committees, deferral, or inaction, without reaching a floor vote. Legislators and opponents frequently cite:

• Social harm concerns, particularly regarding problem gambling and limited treatment infrastructure.
• Tourism industry concerns about a potential shift in Hawaii's brand identity.
• Absence of tribal gaming infrastructure, which in other states provides a regulatory framework and political constituency.
• Revenue projections that some legislators deem insufficient to offset social costs. The provided source material does not include verified fiscal notes for HB 344 or SB 1109; consult capitol.hawaii.gov for bill text.

Based on bill language subjects in legislative records, a legalization framework would likely include operator and supplier licensing, a regulatory body (potentially under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs), and an operator tax. Specific tax rates proposed in these bills are not confirmed in available source material; consult capitol.hawaii.gov for bill text.

What Changed Recently: 2023–2025 Legislative Updates

2023 Session Recap

Both major sports wagering bills from 2023, HB 344 and SB 1109, failed to advance. HB 344 was deferred by the House Committee on Economic Development & Technology. SB 1109 was referred to Senate committees and received no further action. No new gambling law was enacted in 2023.

2024 and 2025 Sessions

Whether sports wagering or broader gaming bills were introduced in the 2024 Hawaii Regular Session, and their current status, is not confirmed in the source material. Similarly, 2025 session activity as of publication requires direct verification. Check capitol.hawaii.gov using the bill search function, filtering by "sports wagering," "gambling," or "gaming" for the relevant session year. OpenStates (openstates.org/hi) also tracks Hawaii legislation and provides email alerts for bill activity.

National Context

Over 38 states now have legal sports betting following the Murphy decision. This creates ongoing pressure on Hawaii. Whether Governor Josh Green has made public statements on gambling expansion or convened any task force on the issue is not confirmed in available source material; consult the Governor's office at governor.hawaii.gov for current policy positions. No verified public polling on Hawaii sports betting legalization from 2023 to 2025 is available in the source material; consult the Hawaii Poll or Honolulu Civil Beat for any recent survey data.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and Other Gambling in Hawaii

Daily Fantasy Sports: Not Legal

DraftKings and FanDuel do not accept registrations from Hawaii. Hawaii law contains no DFS exemption. The state has not passed legislation carving out daily fantasy sports as a skill game distinct from gambling.

Two bills attempted to create such a carve-out. HB 850 (2022 Regular Session) proposed exempting online fantasy sports from Hawaii's gambling statutes and involved the Department of the Attorney General in oversight. It was carried over but did not pass (OpenStates, HB 850, 2022 Hawaii Regular Session). SB 3028 (2022 Regular Session) was the Senate companion, relating to online fantasy sports contests with a similar exemption and appropriation. It was introduced but received no further action (OpenStates, SB 3028, 2022 Hawaii Regular Session).

Under HRS § 712-1220, gambling is defined by whether the outcome involves a "contest of chance." Hawaii has not codified a distinction for DFS as skill-based, so it is treated as gambling under state law.

Social and Sweepstakes Casinos

Social casinos (play-money platforms) and sweepstakes casinos (using virtual currency redeemable for prizes) occupy a legal gray area in Hawaii. No specific Hawaii statute explicitly bans or authorizes sweepstakes casino models. Consult the Hawaii Attorney General's office for current enforcement posture on sweepstakes gaming platforms.

Charitable Gambling

Limited exemptions exist under HRS § 712-1224. Verify the specific scope of charitable exemptions, including coverage for bingo and raffles and organizational eligibility requirements, directly with the Hawaii Attorney General's office.

Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering

No pari-mutuel wagering is authorized in Hawaii. There are no racetracks or off-track betting facilities.

Cruise Ship Gambling

The Johnson Act governs gambling devices on vessels. Ships operating in international waters may offer casino gambling once outside US territorial waters (generally 3 nautical miles from shore). Whether Hawaii has any state-level overlay restricting cruise ship gambling in state waters, or whether ships departing Honolulu offer gambling once in international waters, requires verification with the Hawaii Attorney General's office and relevant cruise operators.

Hawaii vs. Other No-Lottery States: How It Compares

Hawaii's position is extreme by national standards. The table below compares Hawaii to Utah and three states representing different legalization models.

Sources: American Gaming Association state tracker for Nevada, Wyoming, and California data. Hawaii and Utah data from state statutes cited above.

Hawaii's Market Characteristics

Hawaii's resident population is approximately 1.4 million (consult Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for current estimates). This is a small base by mainland standards.

Hawaii hosts millions of visitors annually, many from states where sports betting is legal. A legal Hawaii market could capture tourist wagering that currently goes to offshore sites or does not occur. The provided source material does not include verified fiscal notes projecting tax revenue from HB 344 or SB 1109; consult capitol.hawaii.gov for any attached fiscal analysis, or the Hawaii Department of Taxation for independent revenue modeling.

The Montana model, which uses a state-controlled mobile app through the lottery system rather than private operators, is another framework for small-population states seeking to limit private actors in the market.

Next Steps: What Hawaii Residents and Visitors Should Know

Legal Options Now

The only legal option for sports betting as a Hawaii resident is to travel to a state where it is legal and place a wager while physically present there. Nevada is the closest major market with full retail and online options. Once in a legal state, geolocation-verified apps allow betting using an existing account or new registration.

How to Track Hawaii Legislation

Check bill status directly at capitol.hawaii.gov using the bill search tool. Filter by "sports wagering" or "gambling" and select the current session year. OpenStates at openstates.org/hi provides an alternative tracker with email alert functionality for bill activity.

Who to Contact

To express support or opposition to sports betting legislation, contact:

• House Committee on Economic Development & Technology: via the Hawaii State Legislature directory at capitol.hawaii.gov
• Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism: same directory
• Hawaii State Legislature main line: consult capitol.hawaii.gov for current contact information

Offshore Sportsbooks: Risks

Using offshore sportsbooks from Hawaii is illegal under state law (HRS §§ 712-1220 through 712-1223). Beyond legal exposure, offshore sites carry practical risks: no consumer protections, no regulatory recourse if the site refuses to pay out, no deposit insurance, and no dispute resolution mechanism. The Hawaii Attorney General's office handles illegal gambling enforcement; consult that office for current enforcement priorities.

If Legalization Passes

Expect a gap of roughly 12 to 18 months between a bill signing and a live legal market. This period covers regulatory rulemaking, operator licensing, supplier certification, and technical system approvals.

Responsible Gambling Resources

Problem gambling resources are available to Hawaii residents:

• National Council on Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700 (ncpgambling.org), available 24/7
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

These services are confidential.