Aloha, Sports Gambling Dreamers!
Hawaii's Sports Betting Legislation Falls through
The wave of legalizing sports gambling in Hawaii has crashed, at least for now. Bill HB 1308, a proposed measure to legalize sports betting, was doomed by a single snag: an impasse in a Conference Committee. Unfortunately, the committee couldn't agree on a way to proceed, stalling the bill's progress.
The tale of Bill HB 1308 began earlier in the year, when it sailed through the House with a near-unanimous vote, with only 15 naysayers. A month later, it made its way through the Senate's Ways and Means Committee, securing a 15-10 approval. However, as it transitioned from the Senate, the bill picked up a couple of amendments — a 10% taxation rate on gross gaming revenues and a $250,000 license fee.
The dishes got a little stirred, though, when the Senate, acting as the chamber of "sober second thought," decided to reintroduce those previously removed items back into the bill. This move was intended to impose the tax rate and licensing fees without needing to negotiate with the sportsbooks once the bill was passed.
But oh, what a blunder! Despite already scoring a pass from both the House and the Senate, the new amendments sparked disagreement among the House representatives. Two days after the bill's return, the House couldn't agree, and the bill was effectively killed for the 2025 session. It's ironic to witness a bill slide through both chambers, only to die in committee. Politics, they say, is a wild drug!
Time for a New Strategy in Hawaii
While this latest attempt has been nixed, rest assured that Hawaii's lawmakers won't give up on their quest for legalized sports gambling. Politicians like Daniel Holt, the author of Bill HB 1308, will now have valuable insights on both sides' requirements to push the bill forward.
Missouri took years of failed attempts before it finally legalized sports gambling this past year. It looks like Hawaii might follow a similar path on its journey to the finish line.
So, cue the sad trombone — 2026 is now the focus for legalized sports gambling in the Aloha State. Let's hope the oddsmakers tip us off to some better luck next time!
Insights:
- The American Gaming Association estimates that $150 billion is wagered annually on sports in the United States, with 97% of those bets placed illegally[1].
- As of April 2025, Hawaii remains one of two states (alongside Utah) without any form of legal gambling[1]. Additionally, legalization efforts in Hawaii are opposed by indigenous Hawaiian groups, who argue that gambling violates their cultural and spiritual beliefs[1].
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-06/hawaii-poised-to-lead-u-s-market-for-legal-sports-betting[2] https://www.burbio.com/hawaii/hawaii/2025/04/29/hawaii-sports-betting-legislation-dead-for-the-2025-legislative-session[3] https://www.law360.com/appellate/articles/1627053/hawaii-lawmakers-move-to-legalize-sports-gambling-despite-opposition[4] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/29/hawaii-confirmed-to-become-next-state-to-legalize-sports-betting.html[5] https://www.yahoo.com/now/hawaii-sports-betting-efforts-fizzle-053305177.html
- Despite the recent setback, Hawaii's lawmakers, such as Daniel Holt, are determined to continue their pursuit of legalized sports gambling, using the insights gained from the failed attempt to push the bill forward in the future.
- The tale of Bill HB 1308 mirrors that of Missouri, which took multiple failed attempts before finally legalizing sports gambling in the same year.
- This year, Hawaii became the latest state to witness the demise of sports betting legislation, as the bill was ultimately held back by an impasse in a Conference Committee, leading to a 10% taxation rate on gross gaming revenues and a $250,000 license fee proving to be contentious.
- In the world of politics, it's ironic that a bill can sail through both chambers of the legislature only to die in committee, illustrating the intricate dance between policy-and-legislation and the ever-changing landscape of general news which emphasizes the importance of politics.
- As Hawaii works toward the next step in its sports gambling journey, following the nixing of Bill HB 1308 in the 2025 session, many will eagerly await updates in the realms of policy-and-legislation, sports, and sports-betting, hoping for better luck in 2026.
