Hawaii may be known as one of the best holiday destinations in the world, but unfortunately, when it comes to gambling, there is little to love here. As all forms of gambling are outlawed in the state, there are no legal Hawaii sports betting options for locals and visitors.
As we are not able to give you any advice on where to find the best legal online sports betting in Hawaii, we have created this guide to discuss the state’s gambling industry as a whole. On top of this, we’ve discussed the future outlook for sports betting legalization.
What Betting Options are Legal for Hawaii Residents
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Since Hawaii was first declared a US state in 1959, all forms of gambling have remained illegal. This means that casinos, the lottery, and racetrack betting are banned. Locals can still play social casino games, but only if no money is wagered. It goes without saying that there is also no legal Hawaii online gambling.
Is Daily Fantasy Legal in Hawaii?
In some anti-gambling states, players are still able to wager on daily fantasy sports (DFS). DFS is a kind of game that requires contestants draft players from teams of major sports leagues. Points are scored based on the real-life performance of players, and a cash prize is won at the end of every round.
Unfortunately, DFS is banned in Hawaii, too. Clearly, lawmakers aren’t convinced that the skill required to win in DFS renders it dissimilar to the luck-based nature of gambling. Therefore, reputable sports betting sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings that tend to offer DFS games do not operate in Hawaii.
Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Hawaii Players
Many states that do not allow for sports betting will turn a blind eye to players betting at offshore betting sites. This is because they may not have laws that specifically prohibit the practice, making offshore betting not technically illegal. As is to be expected, offshore betting is not tolerated in Hawaii.
Offshore bookmakers such as MyBookie and BetOnline are based outside of the US and accept players from illegal jurisdictions. As they are not licensed in the states that they are offering their services, we highly recommend against betting with these sites. Not only are they illegal in Hawaii, but there are no fairness and safety guarantees.
Casinos
Casino gambling is strictly off-limits in Hawaii, and anyone caught breaking this law may face severe penalties. This includes online casino gambling too, so we suggest avoiding casino-style gambling in Hawaii. If you want to play casino games such as poker without wagering money, this is allowed, though strict rules still apply.
Nearby States with Legal Sports Betting
Until there are legal online sports betting in Hawaii, both locals and visitors are unable to enjoy any Hawaii sports betting. For this reason, the only legal sports wagering options we can recommend are out of state. There is no law in Hawaii against players traveling out of state to bet, so why not plan a sports betting trip?
As Hawaii is far away from all US states, we’ve listed three of the best gambling locations in the US that will satisfy all of your sports betting needs.
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
What would Legal Sports Betting in Hawaii Look Like
There have been numerous attempts to expand gambling in Hawaii, and the most recent bill was introduced in 2019. This could see that casino gambling and Hawaii sports betting is legalized if lawmakers agree to the terms of the bill. However, expanded gambling has always been a hard sell for the government, so the bill’s passing is unlikely.
In the case that the bill is legalized, a regulatory body would need to be established to oversee how gaming would be operated. This would set a number of mandates that would enforce player protection measures, such as protecting problem gamblers and keeping underage players away from gambling.
It would also ensure that payouts are fair and possibly determine how tax revenues generated from gambling would be spent. We are hopeful that the government can see the potential of sports betting for generating tax revenues, which considering the size of Hawaii’s tourism industry, could be huge.
Other states with legal sports betting allow players to bet on major sports leagues such as the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS. Many even allow for betting on collegiate division games, with the March Madness college basketball tournament one of the largest sports betting events in the entire sports calendar.
What are the Hawaii Gambling Laws
Hawaii’s law outlaws all forms of gambling, which it has a fairly broad definition for. The law defines gambling as a person risking something of value upon a contest of chance or a future event outside of their control for something of value if the outcome is guessed.
A contest of chance is defined as any contest, scheme, or gaming device with an outcome that includes any degree of chance, even if the player can benefit from personal skills. This caveat is the reason why even daily fantasy sports haven’t been allowed, as success tends to require skill more than luck.
There have been numerous attempts to legalize gambling in the state since it was first outlawed. In 1959, a bill attempted to introduce a horse racing track to Maui, though this was shot down. Later in 2010, a number of bills were introduced that aimed to create an investigation into the benefits of creating a lottery and casino gambling. They were also unsuccessful.
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Not Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Not Legal |
| Racetrack Betting | Not Legal |
| Hawaii Gambling Age | Not Legal |
The Hawaii gambling laws go as far as to even outlaw bingo games, which in many anti-gambling states are tolerated on the grounds that they are for charity. The lack of a lottery is also quite unusual, as most US states have been relying on revenues generated from state lotteries to fund government programs for decades.
As there are no legal gambling games in the state, there is no minimum legal gambling age to play. No matter how old players are, there may be severe penalties imposed on anyone caught playing or offering illegal gambling activities.
What is the Future of Sports Betting in Hawaii?
Like previous bills, the bill that has recently been introduced to Hawaii concerning expanded gambling wouldn’t exactly legalize gambling but would establish a committee to investigate its benefits. For this reason, even if the bill passes, Hawaii sports betting is bound to be years away, and that’s if the committee deems it beneficial.
A major reason that gambling is outlawed in the state is that its economy is highly reliant on family-friendly tourism. Some see gambling as an unreliable market that could destabilize its inclusive image. Until attitudes shift, locals will need to travel to other legal sport betting states if they wish to gamble legally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have questions about Hawaii sports betting or gambling in Hawaii in general? Below, we’ve answered some commonly asked questions about the gambling market in Hawaii. Due to Hawaii’s strict anti-gambling nature, it’s incredibly important to remain up to date on gambling laws in the state.
Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Hawaii?
No, online gambling and sports betting are illegal in Hawaii. There have been many cases of people trying to offer black-market gambling operations in the state that have been shut down and severely punished, so we suggest avoiding attempting to gamble in Hawaii at all costs.
What is the Hawaii legal gambling age?
As gambling of all forms is not tolerated in Hawaii, there is technically no minimum gambling age. If a player of any age attempts to play, it’s possible that the state will seek punishment.
Are offshore bookmaker sites legal and safe?
Although the idea of signing up with offshore bookmakers may sound alluring, these sites are highly illegal in Hawaii. Not only this, but as they are unregulated by the state, there are no guarantees that they will not rip you off or prey on vulnerable players.
Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in Hawaii?
No, players can’t use FanDuel or DraftKings in Hawaii. As there are no legal Hawaii sports betting apps nor won’t be for some time, don’t expect to sign up for these apps any time soon. Even daily fantasy sports are unlikely to become legal soon, so the apps can’t even be used for that.