Tag: hawaii sports betting

Despite opposition from multiple government agencies and several groups of native Hawaiians, a senate committee in the state advanced a digital sports betting bill.

The Hawaii senate joint committee on economic development and tourism and commerce and consumer protection unanimously moved forward HB 1308 on Thursday (13 March). Of the nine votes, four were “with reservations”.

The bill would allow four digital sports betting platforms and no retail locations. It does not have a tax rate or fees in it. Both were removed by a house committee that wanted to keep the issue alive. The bill has been passed in the house and now by one senate committee.

The senate committee members questioned witnesses about how much money legal sports betting would bring into the state and about the potential for gambling addiction.

It was somewhat surprising that the bill got out of committee, as the number of opponents far outnumbered supporters. Opponents included several government agencies as well a..

A Hawaii senate committee deferred a version of a digital sports betting bill that was sent to the house floor, leaving the issue all but dead.

Up until Wednesday (26 February) afternoon, Hawaii looked like the state with the best shot to legalise digital sports betting in 2025. But the senate commerce and consumer protection/ways and means committee opted instead to defer the bill.

Its companion, HB 1308, got through the house finance committee two days earlier. But without a taste for the issue in the senate, any further action by the house will likely be academic.

SB 1569 did not get any discussion on Wednesday. “After reviewing the testimony, the recommendation is to defer,” said Donovan M Dela Cruz, the chairman of the senate committee.

Written testimony revealed that multiple state government agencies oppose the measure, including the department of the prosecuting attorney; the department of business, economic development and tourism; and the attorney general. All cited co..