Hawaii Bill Legalizing Sports Betting Continues To Advance

• House Bill 1308 legalizing online sports betting in Hawaii has made it farther than any other bill in the state.
• HB 1308 is now set to be discussed and voted on by the full House.
• Its twin bill, SB 1569 is set to be heard by a committee to see if it can advance with HB 1308.

HONOLULU – Bills regulating online sports betting in Hawaii have made little to no progress in recent years. House Bill 344 (2023) and House Bill 2765 (2024) were deferred, never voted on, and never reintroduced.

Buck in 2025, House Bill 1308 managed to make it to its 3rd legislative committee, passing by a 12-3 vote. This is the farthest any online sports betting bill has advanced in the state of Hawaii.

This revision of this bill removed the proposed 10% tax rate and $250,000 licensing fee but it is still a “work in progress” according to committee chair Kyle Yamashita.

Sports Betting Rules For Hawaii

HB 1308 “allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers.”

The next step for this bill is to go to the full House chamber for a floor vote. The Senate Bill 1569, its companion, is set to have a public hearing on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1569 “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.” This twin bill seeks to make the DBEDT the regulating body of online sports betting sites in Hawaii.

After many years of Hawaii’s restrictions on legal sports betting, these bills show a shift in their approach to online gambling. If passed, these bills could generate a new revenue stream for the state and address the public’s wants and needs.

News tags: Hawaii | HI HB 1308 | HI SB 1569 | Honolulu | Kyle Yamashita