Hawaii Casino Bill Dead, Sports Betting and iGaming Unlikely

Last week, the Hawaii Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection threw out Senate Bill 893, which would have allowed two retail casinos in the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. 

This legislation was filed in January by Sen. Majority Leader Dru Kanuha, a Democrat from Hawaii County. 

Now, other legislation for online sports betting and casino play hangs in the balance. 

Committee’s Decision

The Senate committee opted to “indefinitely defer” the bill after opposition from numerous places, including the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Attorney General Anne Lopez.

Committee Chair Lynn DeCoite, a Democrat from Maui County, made this decision. She also introduced legislation for sports betting.

“There was overwhelming opposition to this bill from the testifiers. For those who supported the bill, I considered and appreciated your points of view,” DeCoite explained.

“But for those reasons, I am deferring this bill indefinitely,” she continued. “Casino gambling has not always been a favorite subject. Regardless of if we’re flying to Las Vegas or any other place, we’ve always had our challenges here in Hawaii.”

The bill suggested a 15% flat tax on casino revenue to help fund K-12 public education. 

iGaming and Sports Betting on Life Support

While the Hawaii casino legislation in 2025 is dead, there’s still a sliver of hope that something might happen with online sports betting and casino play. 

Senate Bill 1569, sponsored by DeCoite, five Democrats, and one Republican, would authorize a 10% tax on online sportsbooks. 

This bill cleared the Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee in a 5-0 vote earlier this month. Now, it’s set for consideration in DeCoite’s Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. 

While DeCoite has proposed this, the City of Honolulu Police Department, AG Lopez, and others are strongly opposed. 

Senate Bill 1507, which regulates online gambling, was introduced by Sen. President Ronald Kouchi, a Democrat from Kauai County. It has been sent to the Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee but hasn’t been reviewed. 

Gaming Probably Not Happening

Hawaii doesn’t allow any form of gaming, including charitable gaming. Utah is the only other state like this. 

This even includes sweepstakes casinos.

Hawaiians in the state blame local politicians for being in cahoots with Nevada, as Las Vegas is informally referred to as Hawaii’s “ninth island.”

Las Vegas has the second-largest population of Hawaiians.