Summary
- The bills would create a casino in Waikiki, a lottery, and allow sports betting in the state.
- Four committees must now review the measures.
- If gambling is approved, Utah would be the single US state that bans all forms of gambling.
Five bills are on the table in Hawaii, set to offer some form of gambling in the state. The State House recently reviewed the measures and the bills have moved forward to various committees for further consideration.
Details of the New Gambling Bills
Each bill proposed in the state offers something different. House Bill 1820 would introduced just a few days ago and would create a unique casino in Waikiki. The casino would be licensed for 10 years and offer a members-only approach. Guests could pay $20 a day to access the facility and revenues would go towards a newly created state gaming fund as well as problem gambling program needs.
House Bill 1962 looks to see a report conducted on potential revenues from casino gaming in Hawaii. The report must be completed and turned in by next year, if this measure is approved.
Lottery gaming is also in the mix. House Bill 2040 would create a state Lottery and Gaming Corporation which would be in charge of lottery gaming services. A special fund would be created to collect payments from the industry, with the funds used for community needs.
House Bill 2485 also covers the lottery, set to create a new commission for the industry. The commission would be in charge of using lottery funds to help address problems connected to invasive species.
Don’t Forget About Sports Betting!
The newly introduced bills connected to gambling are a mixed bag, with lawmakers seemingly hopeful that at least one of the measures will go through. Sports betting is also on the table via House Bill 1973. The measure would legalize sports betting, putting the department of business, economic development and tourism in charge.
The measure includes details on how the new industry would operate, including information on the operator licensing process. The new industry will be defined differently and will not be considered a game of chance.
The new set of bills were introduced one year after legislators tried to allow gambling in the state via six new measures. Unfortunately, the previous effort dies within committee. This time around, lawmakers are hopeful that more support will be given to ensure at least one option is approved in 2022.
If Hawaii can legalize some form of gambling, then Utah will be the single state in the US that does not offer any form of gambling. So far, the two states are the only ones that have banned gambling across the board.
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