Could it be true? The 50th state in the Union just took a major step on Tuesday, Mar. 5 toward legalizing sports betting platforms.
House Bill 1308, sponsored by Rep. Dan Holt (D-Honolulu) and filed with the help of Reps. Darius Kila (D-Honokai Hale) and Chris Todd (D-Hilo), passed the Hawaii House of Representatives by a commanding 35-15 vote Tuesday, checking off a box and moving legislation forward that would authorize up to four online sports betting platforms. If passed and signed into law, Hawaii would become the 39th U.S. state to legalize sports betting.
Currently, sports gambling in the state is legal, but there's no current legal platform or avenue to either place a sports wager at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook or thru a mobile app. One of the U.S.' most restrictive states, Hawaii has no commercial or tribal casinos, lottery games, parimutuel wagering, sports betting, fantasy sports, or even charitable games of any kind.
Hawaii’s 2025 legislative session runs through Friday, May 2. HB1308 has now been transmitted to the state Senate, where their companion bill Senate Bill 1569 has stalled.
Senate Bill 1569
SB1569 passed through the Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee back in February, but both the Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means committees deferred the gaming bill last week on Feb. 26.
“Deferring a bill may allow the committee more time to consider it, gain consensus, or prepare an amended draft for the future vote by the committee. If a bill is deferred, the committee must bring the bill back for public decision-making to pass it. If not, the bill simply stays in that committee,” according to the Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau.
Gov. Josh Green (D) would be the final signature on any sports betting legislation that goes through the Senate in order for it to become law.
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Hawaii men's basketball
In other Aloha State-related sports news, Hawaii (15-14, 7-11 Big West) visits CSU Bakersfield (13-18, 7-12 Big West) on Thursday, Mar. 6. Each opponent looks to earn one of the final two spots available at the Big West Conference Tournament at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, Mar. 12-15.
