A Casinos Legal In Hawaii

Is Online Gambling Legal in the State Of Hawaii?

  1. A Casinos Legal In Hawaii Big Island
  2. A Casinos Legal In Hawaii State
  3. A Casinos Legal In Hawaii Right Now
  4. A Casinos Legal In Hawaii Oahu

Club World is an outstanding legal web based casino that accepts Hawaii players, and offers over 120 virtual casino games. You will find themed slot machines like Penguin Power and Naughty or Nice. You will find something to fascinate you at Club World, no matter how niche your interests. Casino Gambling Age in Hawaii All forms of gambling Hawaii are strictly illegal and attempting to do so is not advised. If a player is caught gambling, it is considered a misdemeanor and is punishable with no longer than a year in prison or a fine of $6,000. McKelvey said if Hawaii lets gambling in it will have to be controlled like a hotel casino where only guests are allowed to play. Honolulu police argue that even if gambling were legal. There are no forms of live gambling that are legal in Hawaii. The closest thing to it is home poker games. Bars may offer poker tournaments as long as there is no buy-in. There are no Hawaii casinos on any of the islands. Hawaii casinos are nonexistent. There are two states in America that have absolutely no legal gambling, Utah, and Hawaii. Gambling in Hawaii is not permitted by law, which means you cannot find any casinos operating in the region.

Of all the States, only Hawaii and Utah have such comprehensive anti-gambling legislation. In the Island State, only social poker games where nobody makes a profit (not even from selling beverages) are allowed. That is it, no casinos, no charity gambling, no lottery and no sports. This article explains the Hawaii gambling laws (or rather anti-gambling laws) in detail.

First up below, a quick-fire overview of the history of gambling in this State can be found. This consists of heavyweight legislation and many busts. Next a game-by-game guide, which covers the specifics of what you can’t do. After that a legislative timeline can be found, including the key passages from the statute books. Finally, I have summarized the key points – and then speculated on how gambling in Hawaii might look in the future.

Chumba Casino Hawaii – Sweepstakes Casino Option

Chumba Casino is available in Hawaii and gives players the chance to play online casino games for real cash prizes.

Hawaii Gambling Laws – A Brief History

This State was formed in 1959 – and gambling has been against the law ever since. In pre-State colony days, there was a horse-racing scene, and I am sure many bets were laid on the black market on those races. These declined and stopped in the 1940’s and efforts to legislate have met with no success since.

Periodically, headlines scream of big busts of just about every kind of gambling you can think of. These include a ‘Lottery Queen’, a major indicted in connection gambling extortion, a sports-betting ring getting busted and the seizure of gambling machines. If nothing else this shows that there is still a significant appetite among Hawaiians for gambling, even if their government shows no signs of budging on the legal perspective.

Most recently, there have been bills introduced in 2010 and 2012 requesting that a study be done into setting up a casino and the regulation of online poker respectively. These caused a stir in the media – but did not get far through the legislative process before being killed off.

Hawaii Gambling Laws – An Overview of Which Gambling Games Are Legal

Casino Games: No, like most forms of gambling, this is strictly against the law in Hawaii – the closest legal US casino by distance would be in the State of California.

Online Casinos: No, online gambling is covered by the broad definition of what constitutes a gambling game in this State. Basically any game with a chance element, and some risk / reward, even if skill can materially affect the outcome.

Live Poker: Yes, you can play poker socially in Hawaii. There are strict rules surrounding social poker games. No profit can be taken by any house or individual organizer. This extends to profiting by selling food or beverages, which rules out pub leagues which are popular even in conservative States like Utah where poker is also social-only.

Online Poker: No, there have been some recent bills which would regulate online poker games – though these have not made it far through the legislative process before being killed off.

Sports Betting: No, there are no racetracks or pari-mutuel betting machines. Hawaii has a rich history of horse racing, starting in the 1800’s and continuing until the end of the 1940’s when this died out.

Casinos

Lottery Betting: No, this is one of the few states which does not have a lottery nor participate in any inter-State lottery programs.

Bingo Games: No, there are not even any provisions for charitable raffle or bingo gambling in Hawaii.

Hawaii Gambling Laws – Timeline of Key Statutes

The main gambling provisions have remained largely unchanged since the State joined the US in 1959. Unlike in other States, any amendments have strengthened the anti-gambling rules – rather than allowed certain types of gambling to occur. Like many legal definitions, the ones Hawaii uses is broad enough to make sure that fans of any particular game can’t say that they are not covered. Here are the key pieces:

First their broad definition of gambling:

[su_quote cite=”Chapter 712-1220″ url=”http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol14_ch0701-0853/hrs0712/hrs_0712-1220.htm”]A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.[/su_quote]

Then, just in case you were about to play the ‘skill game’ card, their definition of a Game of Chance puts that one to bed:

[su_quote]”Contest of chance” means any contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.[/su_quote]

There is no getting around it, even the definition of a gambling device (also illegal) is broad enough to cover just about anything.

There have been some recent attempts at legislation for gambling, though to date these have been killed off very early in the legislative process and have not gotten to committee – let alone had the opportunity to be put to the popular vote. Here are some examples:

1959: A bill is introduced to bring back Horse Racing via a track on the island of Maui, this did not pass the house of representatives.

2010: Separate bills to investigate the setup of a committee to oversee an investigation into the viability of casino gambling and a proposal to set up a State lottery. Neither bill made it as far as the floor.

2012: A bill (number 2242) requesting the setup of another committee, this time to look into the regulation of online poker is submitted – again, it is killed off before there is a chance of a serious debate.

Talk of yet more bills periodically gets the poker press excited. Experienced commentators suggest otherwise, that the opposition to gambling is strong enough in the Island State to ensure keep the status-quo for the foreseeable future.

Hawaii Gambling Laws – Summary and a Look into The Future

Along with Utah, this is the strictest anti-gambling State of all, with only social poker games allowed for residents. One thing to bear in mind is that individual participants in gambling games are rarely affected by the regular busts and crack-downs – which are aimed at the organizers and profiteers. Residents wishing to gamble at offshore operators may be breaking the law in the strict sense, though they are doing so with minimal risk of being personally prosecuted. Please take legal advice before making your own decision on whether to play online poker at offshore sites from Hawaii.

The most likely future scenario for Hawaii is no change. If there is an (unlikely) drop off in tourism income then change might be possible – at the moment this State appears very happy with the current no-gambling situation.

Useful Resources:

State Laws

Wiki History (mentions horse racing)

State legislature

Introduction to Hawaii Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021

Hawaii slot machine casino gambling does not exist. For business reasons related to Hawaii’s tourism industry, the Hawaiian Islands are one of the most uncompromising states prohibiting gambling.

I’ve dedicated this weekly series to slot enthusiasts such as yourself as you master casino slots and win your way to success by using this State-By-State Online Resource to improve your slots gambling performance by reviewing your state’s slots gaming industry.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Hawaii

The minimum legal gambling age in Hawaii does not depend upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: Not available
  • Poker Rooms: Not available
  • Bingo: Not available
  • Lottery: Not available
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: Not available

Hawaii prohibits all forms of gambling, including slot machines, table games, lotteries, horse and dog racing, sports betting, and even bingo. However, Hawaii allows social gaming with restrictions. Craps may eventually fall under Hawaii’s legal definition of social gaming.

Hawaii has not embraced gaming because, for the Hawaiian Islands, there’s not enough profit in it. Relative to their existing tourism industry, a gaming industry would result in a fraction of the profit.

Hawaii has estimated potential annual revenue from gaming between $20 million and $40 million. However, Hawaii’s annual tourism revenue is already at $1 billion.

Simply put, Hawaii would suffer a significant loss if it used valuable land for a casino instead of what they’re currently using it for: Tourism.

Gambling in Hawaii is a misdemeanor offence under most circumstances. It can become a felony if an individual receives more than:

  • $1,000 per day in lottery bet income
  • five bookmaking wagers per day with a value over $500

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Hawaii

Hawaii prohibits private ownership of slot machines.

Gaming Control Board in Hawaii

Hawaii does not have a gaming control commission.

Horse racing was once popular on the islands, enjoyed by the royal family and the financial elite in the 1800s and early 1900s. The industry nearly died out prior to 1920, but made a strong, if short-lived, comeback during World War II.

Casinos in Hawaii

There are no land-based casinos in Hawaii. Visiting cruise ships offer Vegas-style gambling when traveling in international waters but cannot when located in nearby Hawaiian waters.

Commercial Casinos in Hawaii

There are no commercial casinos on the Hawaiian Islands.

Tribal Casinos in Hawaii

Hawaii has no federally recognized American Indian tribes.

Casinos

Any proposed federal recognition of Native Hawaiians is politically controversial. Some Hawaiian lawmakers believe recognition might interfere with Hawaii’s claims to independence as a constitutional monarchy through international law.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Hawaii slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby territory. Bordering Hawaii is:

  • Southwest: American Samoa Slots
  • West: Northern Mariana Islands Slots and Guam Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my article for that neighboring U.S. territory to Hawaii.

Our Hawaii Slots Facebook Community

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Hawaii? If so, join our Hawaii slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group community.

There, you can meet online and privately share your slots experiences with local slots enthusiasts about playing slot machines in Hawaii. Join us!

Payouts and Returns in Hawaii

Without casinos, slot machines, or a gaming commission, theoretical payout and return statistics are unavailable.

Summary of Hawaii Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2021

Hawaii slot machine casino gambling does not exist. Alongside Utah, Hawaii is one of the most uncompromising states towards legalized gambling.

Annual Progress in Hawaii Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there has been no progress toward a legalized slots industry in the Hawaiian Islands.

Other States from Professor Slots

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Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC