Legal Sports Betting Brief: Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio

Hawaii House Bill 1308 will undergo a public hearing, but many state agencies have submitted testimony in opposition to the Hawaii sports betting measure.
Mississippi went back and forth about adding online sports betting to their laws but their measure SB 2510 died in a conference committee.
Ohio becomes the third state to submit a cease-and-desist letter to companies offering event contracts in the guise of sports betting.

HONOLULU – The world of sports betting is never quiet, and the beginning of April features news from three states: Hawaii, Mississippi, and Ohio.

While Hawaii is looking to make sports betting legal, Mississippi was hoping to add online sportsbooks. As for Ohio, its focus turned to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com by attempting to stop event-based betting contracts.

Hawaii Sports Betting Faces Strong Opposition

Hawaii’s latest push for sports betting is encountering significant resistance. House Bill 1308, which seeks to create a legal Hawaii sports betting industry, faces an uphill battle as key state agencies and advocacy groups submitted testimony for a Wednesday hearing.

The Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Family Forum, and the Department of the Attorney General have all testified against the bill.

The measure recently passed its second reading in the Senate but is now under review by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, with a decision set on Wednesday. Despite passing multiple legislative hurdles, strong opposition from law enforcement and social groups may prevent the bill from advancing yet again.

Mississippi Online Sports Betting Bill Dies in Committee

Mississippi’s latest attempt to legalize online sports betting ended in failure as Senate Bill 2510 died in a conference committee on Monday.

Originally focused on prohibiting sweepstakes gaming, the bill was amended by the House to include online sports betting legalization, only to be rejected by the Senate. Concerns over cannibalization of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and casino revenue played a significant role in its demise.

With key opponents like Senator David Blount continuing to block expansion efforts, online sports betting in Mississippi remains restricted to casino properties. Lawmakers may revisit the issue in 2026, but for now, the push for statewide online wagering is officially stalled.

Ohio Joins Crackdown on Sports Event Contracts

Ohio regulators have issued cease-and-desist notices to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com, ordering them to stop offering sports-related event contracts.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) determined these contracts qualify as unlicensed sports betting under state law. Ohio now joins Nevada and New Jersey in cracking down on prediction markets that allow users to wager on sports outcomes.

The targeted companies have until April 14 to comply, though legal challenges may arise, as Kalshi is already suing regulators in Nevada and New Jersey. Ohio sports betting looks to tighten its grip on the alternative betting platforms, but the legal battle over prediction markets is just beginning.

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Michael Molter

After spending time scouting college basketball for Florida State University under Leonard Hamilton and the University of Alabama under Anthony Grant, Michael started writing focused on NBA content. A graduate of both schools, he now covers legal sports betting bills, sports betting revenue data, tennis betting odds, and sportsbook reviews. Michael likes to play basketball, hike, and kayak when not glued to the TV watching midlevel tennis matches.