Hawaii is a tropical paradise thousandsof miles from the lower 48 states. People from all over the world travel to the islands to see the lush greenery and beautiful beaches and ocean. If you are a gambler, however, you are going to be taking a break from most forms of gambling here. We’ll review the conservative laws in this state on this page, and see if there is any chance that any of them will change in the future.
Sports Betting in Hawaii
Sports fans in Hawaii have always had some struggles to keep up with their favorite teams. Based on its location geographically, many fo the games take place in the morning and early afternoon hours, and with that extreme time change, it makes it far more difficult to generate interest in many games.
The state’s stance on gambling adds another layer of complexity to those who are interested in betting on sports from the Hawaiian islands. Even though the Supreme Court voted to repeal PASPA in 2018, Hawaii does not seem interested in taking on legalized sports betting at this time. There is no indication that any bills will be presented, so, for the time being, we wouldn’t expect to see any movement on this front in the next couple of years.
Online Sports Betting
With no regulated land-based sportsbooks on the horizon in Hawaii, anyone looking to bet on sports must resort to playing with an offshore-based operator. While we don’t recommend playing with these sites in general, we do know that many have been taking players from Hawaii for years, and will continue to do so until some measure is put in place to thwart them.
Horse Betting in Hawaii
Horse racing enthusiasts are definitely not having fun in Hawaii. Not only are there no tracks available on the islands for live races, but there is also no pari-mutuel betting through off-track betting locations. Pari-mutuel betting is illegal in Hawaii, and there are no signs that this is going to change anytime soon.
Online Horse Betting
It’s a double shot of trouble for horse racing fans when it comes to finding places to play online. The ban on pari-mutuel betting in the state means that sites like Twinspires, DRF Bets and Xpressbet, all of which are licensed in Oregon and take action from many states, are also not allowed to operate in Hawaii.
Casino Gambling in Hawaii
Continuing the trend of sports and horse racing, there are also no land-based casinos in the state. There was a movement to open a gambling property on one of the islands about a decade ago, but that was quickly killed in the house. For now, there is no live casino gambling available to residents or tourists in the state. Residents looking to gamble should board a plane and visit one of the many casinos in California.
Online Casinos in Hawaii
Considering the state government’s stance on gambling as a whole, it comes as no shock that there has been no movement on finding a way to regulate the online casino industry. This doesn’t stop Hawaiian residents from gambling online – they can find their favorite casino games at one of the plethora of offshore online casinos open for business. Just as with sports betting, there is some risk in playing with a site that is not governed by laws of the state, but that isn’t stopping thousands of players sitting at a digital slot machine looking to hit a big jackpot.
Lottery in Hawaii
No matter how conservative a state is with regards to other forms of gambling, this is the point in our overview where we can point to lottery games as a staple form of entertainment. This is, however, not the case with Hawaii. Even though the majority of the country has added lottery games as a way to raise funds for state initiatives, Hawaii has chosen to remain on the sidelines. They are one of only 5 states that do not currently offer lottery games.
Hawaii Gambling FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Hawaii?
Sad news for our friends in Hawaii – despite all the positive movement around sports betting in other states, it remains unregulated in this state. The government has a hard stance on gambling as a whole, and this includes the hot topic of sports betting.
When will sports betting be legal in Hawaii?
This is the one state where we can confidently say we expect there to be no movement for years on the topic. Now, while we may be pleasantly surprised and someone in the government may take a more progressive view on the subject of sports betting, it is more likely that the state will make no changes to current legislation, and Hawaiian residents will be shut out from regulated sports betting.
What is the best online sportsbook for residents of Hawaii?
The only options for players in Hawaii who want to bet on sports are the websites that are owned and operated outside of U.S. jurisdiction. There are many companies that are considered reputable in this space, and while we don’t endorse any of them here, we do suggest that you do some due diligence before sending money to any unregulated company. If you are comfortable with the risk, then you should be looking for sites that offer the most comprehensive array of bets and that have the most accessible withdrawal options.