Hawaii's Senate Bill 893 to legalize casino gambling was placed in indefinite limbo by the state legislature following sharp opposition from lawmakers, government agencies, and legal bodies.
If signed into law, the bill would have created the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission to oversee casino activity in the proposed Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. It also sought to impose a 15% wagering tax on casino gross receipts to increase state revenues.
The bill's rejection was primarily due to the scale of opposition from various government and law enforcement agencies. These included the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Department of the Attorney General, and the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
These organizations all expressed concern that casino gambling was socially and financially risky.
Critics also assumed that the legalization of casinos would increase the crime rate, aggravate the economic instability of the locals with gambling-prone tendencies, and could adversely impact Hawaii's economy instead of boosting it.
Senator Lynn DeCoite, who was among the crucial votes to kill the bill, insisted that Hawaii does not believe in burdening its people with more taxes. She further added that gambling has been a persistent but contentious topic in the state and again reiterated that all past attempts to introduce gambling have faltered for the same reasons.
Announcing the decision at the end of a Senate committee meeting on Economic Development and Tourism, DeCoite said, “Casino gambling has not always been a favorite subject. Regardless of if we flying to Vegas or flying to any other place, we've always had our challenges here in Hawaii.”
Hawaii Anti-Gambling Sentiment Remains Strong
The Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, the last of the committees to take up the bill, wrapped up its discussions with a unanimous show of relief from its members. Local newspapers quoted most of its members as cheering and celebrating the outcome.
The committee's decision is a testament to Hawaii's long history of opposition to gambling. Throughout the years, lawmakers consistently opposed various legislative bills advocating for the institution of gambling within the state, and these ultimately failed to be enacted.
For example, SB 2571 and HB 1107 to legalize sports betting died after carrying over from 2019. Meanwhile, HB 1962, which legalized casino gambling, died in 2022, while sports betting legislation HB 2762 and HB 2765 failed in 2024.
However, HB 2765 to legalize online sports betting in Hawaii passed a House committee recently, suggesting the tide on gambling could be about to turn in the Aloha State.
Hawaii is one of only two states in the U.S., with Utah being the other, that explicitly forbids all forms of gambling, including casinos, sports betting, and lotteries. While most residents of Hawaii go to Las Vegas and elsewhere that involve gambling, the state itself has been adamant that it will not legalize any form of gambling.
