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One of the few US states that prohibits nearly every form of gambling, Hawaii, will apparently maintain the status quo.
A series of bills have stalled following months of committee hearings.
House Bill 2570 allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Establishes a general excise tax to be levied on sports wagering operator licenses. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Health. Specifies that legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests shall not be considered contests of chance or gambling. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering. Effective 7/1/3000.
Time does not appear to be a major factor at the moment, however, as the legislative period in Hawaii is set to conclude on May 7.
Hawaii is often viewed as the second least-friendly gambling state after Utah. Neither of those states even offer a lottery.
The Aloha State does permit some forms of social gambling such as private games with no house taking a cut, and that's it.
Also on the table is a bill to prohibit prediction markets.
HB 2198 indicates that a person is gambling if they’re staking something of value on the outcome of an event they cannot control. Rep. Scot Z. Matayoshi (D) is the primary sponsor of the bill with 15 Democrats listed as co-sponsors.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
