Hawaii Online Betting Bill Passes Senate Committe

A digital sports betting bill has progressed through a senate committee in Hawaii, despite facing opposition from various government agencies and groups representing native Hawaiians.

Bill Passes Committee Vote

On Thursday, March 13, the Hawaii Senate Joint Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Commerce and Consumer Protection unanimously approved HB 1308, with four out of nine votes cast “with reservations.”

This legislation proposes the establishment of four digital sports betting platforms, explicitly excluding any retail locations.

Notably, the bill does not include a tax rate or associated fees, as these provisions were removed by a house committee aiming to keep the discussion ongoing.

Having already passed in the house, the bill has now received approval from one senate committee.

How The Committe Rached a Decision

It was somewhat surprising that the bill got out of committee, as the number of opponents far outnumbered supporters. Opponents included several government agencies as well as native Hawaiian groups. BetMGM and DraftKings offered testimony seeking to counteract the concerns, although nearly half of the committee did not seem sold.

During the proceedings, committee members inquired about the potential revenue that legal sports betting could generate for the state, as well as concerns regarding the risk of gambling addiction.

Senator DeCoite emphasized the importance of having an open dialogue on the matter, stating that it should be addressed directly. She also implemented several administrative amendments to the bill, including a change in the regulatory agency. Senator Donna Mercado Kim expressed her apprehensions, acknowledging the prevalence of illegal gambling within the state while requesting and receiving an opportunity to voice her concerns.