A Hawaii Senate committee has advanced a bill to legalize digital sports betting, despite opposition from government agencies and Native Hawaiian groups, marking the furthest progress a sports wagering proposal has made in the state legislature.
The Senate Joint Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, Commerce, and Consumer Protection voted unanimously on March 13 to advance HB 1308, though four of the nine committee members voted “with reservations.” The bill had previously passed the House.
The proposal would authorize four digital sports betting platforms but no retail locations. Lawmakers removed tax rates and licensing fees from the bill earlier in the process to keep discussions alive. Additionally, the legislation would legalize daily fantasy sports,
A key amendment during the Senate committee hearing shifted regulatory oversight from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).
Opponents of the bill have raised concerns about the potential social and financial consequences of legalized gambling.
Deputy Attorney General David Williams testified that legal sports betting could lead to increased credit card debt, bankruptcies, and domestic abuse.
Brandon Maka’awa’awa, vice president of the Independent & Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii, criticized lawmakers for advancing the bill before completing an ongoing economic impact study, calling it “irresponsible policymaking.”
DCCA Director Nadine Ando warned that building a regulated sports betting market from scratch would be complex and expensive, noting that most states with legal betting have dedicated gaming commissions to handle oversight.
Adding to the skepticism, Boyd Gaming previously testified that similarly sized states had seen lower-than-expected sports betting revenues, sometimes failing to generate enough funds to sustain regulatory enforcement and responsible gambling programs.
Despite concerns, some senators argued that sports betting is already widespread in Hawaii, just through unregulated offshore platforms.
Sen. Glenn Wakai pushed back on arguments that Hawaii would be starting from zero, saying: “You can change the VPN on your phone to be out of Nigeria or another state… There’s a prevalence of gambling here.”
Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said: “I know that any Sunday, if you’re watching football, almost everybody is betting on the game… I’m sure law enforcement people sitting in this room have bet on games at home, as well.”
Kim also successfully introduced an amendment to direct some of the proceeds from sports betting to fund education.
The bill now moves to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, its final stop before a potential vote on the full Senate floor.
While the measure continues to gain momentum, lawmakers acknowledge significant details remain unresolved, including setting tax rates, licensing fees, and regulatory guidelines.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/17/98471-hawaii-senate-advances-digital-sports-betting-bill-despite-opposition
