Hawaii Online Sports Betting Bill Inching Closer to Approval

Local lawmakers approved the Hawaii online sports betting bill during its legislative session, sending it to the Senate floor. This development means residents in the Aloha State are inching closer to having online sportsbook betting options within their state.

HB 1308 was recently passed in the House Committee hearing, garnering a 35-15 vote last March 7, 2025. Even amid reservations and amendments during the course of its discussion during the Committee hearing, HB 1308 advances.

After a Senate hearing on Wednesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee approved HB 1308, thanks to a 11-2 vote. However, passing the bill necessitated having amendments to it, which includes various regulatory provisions and safeguards for Hawaiian players. Namely, one key amendment was to establish that the Department of Law Enforcement would regulate the market. 

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs initially was the regulator for the state’s online sportsbook betting environment. But during the last hearing, Director Nadine Ando stated her department wasn’t best suited for the job.

Another notable amendment announced by Chair Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz pertains to the taxation of online sports betting. HB 1308 restored the 10% tax rate and $250,000 fee for a five-year license. The Department of Taxation would administer the aforementioned taxation rules.

Moreover, the governing body will issue a minimum of four sports betting licenses for potential operators. HB 1308 would also take effect on July 1, with the market launching within the state by Jan. 1, 2026.

Hawaii Online Sports Betting Bill had a lot of Initial Push Back

HB 1308’s recent approval was not without its detractors. Several governmental bodies opposed HB 1308 before it advanced to the Senate floor. This included the Attorney General’s office, and Nevada-based casino Boyd Gaming that operates tourism service between Hawaii and Las Vegas. 

Meanwhile, some of the bill’s supporters include Sports Betting Alliance members FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and Fanatics. Apart from industry support, workers’ unions and various politicians have also backed up the Hawaii online sports betting bill.