Hawaii sports betting remains illegal as of May 2026. Hawaii and Utah are the only two states in the country with no legalized gambling in any form, no casinos, no lottery, no horse racing, and no regulated sports wagering. The 2026 legislative session introduced fresh bills, including SB 3303 and HB 2570, but both stalled without advancing to a floor vote, continuing a pattern that has played out every session since PASPA was repealed in 2018.
Hawaii came closer than ever in 2025. House Bill 1308 passed both the Senate and the House before dying in a conference committee over disagreements on tax rates, licensing fees, and the number of permitted operators. The Sports Betting Alliance estimates Hawaii residents currently wager approximately $300 million annually through offshore websites and illegal bookmaking operations.
Smart Bet Insider covers Hawaii sports betting legislation and tracks where things stand for locals who want to bet on sports right now.
Why Hawaii Has Never Legalized Gambling
Hawaii’s constitution prohibits lotteries and most games of chance, a position that has remained unchanged for decades. Unlike most states, Hawaii has never established any formal gambling framework, which means legalization requires not just legislative votes but a shift in an entrenched constitutional and cultural posture toward gambling.
The opposition is broad. Religious groups, community organizations, and cultural advocates have consistently pushed back against gambling expansion, citing concerns about addiction, family harm, and the effect on Hawaii’s identity as a tourism destination. State lawmakers who support legalization have faced sustained pressure from these groups at every session.
Governor Josh Green has signaled he would sign a sports betting bill if one reached his desk, removing the executive veto obstacle that blocks progress in states like South Carolina. The problem in Hawaii has consistently been the legislature, not the governor.
2025: The Closest Hawaii Has Come
HB 1308 was the most significant sports betting bill in Hawaii’s history. It passed the Senate 15-10 and cleared the House, reaching a conference committee tasked with reconciling the two chambers’ versions. The Senate and House versions differed on the number of operator licenses, the tax rate, and licensing fee structure. Negotiators could not reach agreement before the legislative deadline of May 2, 2025, and the bill died without a final vote.
Rep. Daniel Holt, who introduced HB 1308, said after its failure: “We just haven’t come to an agreement on the details with number of operators, tax rate, fees and those kinds of things.” The bill’s original framework proposed at least four licensed online sportsbooks and would have also authorized daily fantasy sports in the state for the first time.
2026: New Bills, Same Result
Two bills were introduced in the 2026 session. SB 3303, introduced by Sen. Dru Kanuha, would authorize statewide mobile sports betting with a minimum of six operator licenses, a 15% tax rate on adjusted gross gaming revenue, a $500,000 initial licensing fee, and a launch deadline of no later than 180 days after the bill takes effect. Betting on youth sports and collegiate events involving Hawaii-based teams would be prohibited under the proposal.
HB 2570 cleared the House Economic Development and Technology Committee by a 4-3 vote in February 2026, with one yes vote declared with reservations. The bill mirrors SB 3303’s framework on licensing and tax structure, and the matching terms between the two chambers were seen as the key development that caused HB 1308 to fail in 2025.
Despite the early committee movement, both bills stalled as the session progressed. Legislative priorities including the state budget, tax policy, and other fiscal matters crowded out gambling legislation. The 2026 session ended without a sports betting bill reaching a floor vote in either chamber.
The DFS Situation
Daily fantasy sports occupy a complicated position in Hawaii. In 2016, the state’s attorney general issued an opinion that DFS contests constitute gambling under Hawaii law. Most major DFS platforms, including DraftKings and FanDuel, subsequently exited the Hawaiian market for real-money play. Their DFS services are technically prohibited under Hawaii Revised Statutes, though enforcement has historically targeted operators rather than individual residents.
Some platforms remain accessible to Hawaii residents in practice. The same enforcement dynamic that applies to offshore sportsbooks, focus on operators rather than individuals, has allowed some DFS activity to continue without documented prosecutions of individual players.
Where Hawaii Residents Bet Online Now
Offshore sportsbooks are the primary option for Hawaii residents who want to bet on sports. Hawaii’s gambling statute under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 712 broadly defines and prohibits gambling activities, and its reach is not explicitly limited to operators. Enforcement, however, has focused entirely on illegal bookmaking operations and commercial gambling operators.
That statutory exposure is real and worth understanding clearly. Using an offshore sportsbook in Hawaii means operating outside any consumer protection framework, with no dispute resolution, no deposit guarantees, and no recourse if a platform refuses to pay out. The $300 million in annual offshore wagering the Sports Betting Alliance estimates flows through Hawaii does not come with any of the safeguards a regulated market would provide.
If you want to follow Hawaii legislation as it develops and find the best options available to local residents right now, Smart Bet Insider covers the full Hawaii sports betting picture throughout the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sports betting legal in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii is one of only two states, along with Utah, with no legalized gambling in any form. There are no licensed sportsbooks, no state lottery, no casinos, and no regulated daily fantasy sports in Hawaii as of May 2026. Multiple bills have been introduced and failed since PASPA was repealed in 2018, including HB 1308 in 2025, which passed both chambers before dying in conference committee.
How close did Hawaii come to legalizing sports betting in 2025?
House Bill 1308 passed the Hawaii Senate 15-10 and cleared the House before reaching a conference committee in April 2025. Negotiators could not reconcile differences between the two chambers on the number of operator licenses, the tax rate, and licensing fees before the May 2 legislative deadline. It was the furthest any Hawaii sports betting bill has progressed.
What bills are active in Hawaii in 2026?
Two bills were introduced in the 2026 session. SB 3303, introduced by Sen. Dru Kanuha, proposes a minimum of six online sports betting licenses, a 15% tax rate, and a $500,000 initial licensing fee. HB 2570 cleared a House committee in February 2026 by a 4-3 vote with matching licensing and tax terms. Both bills stalled without reaching a floor vote as the session ended.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in Hawaii?
No. In 2016, Hawaii’s attorney general issued an opinion that daily fantasy sports constitute gambling under Hawaii law. Most major DFS platforms including DraftKings and FanDuel exited the state for real-money play following that ruling. Some platforms remain technically accessible to residents, but real-money DFS is not authorized under Hawaii law.
Where do Hawaii residents bet on sports now?
Offshore sportsbooks are the primary option for Hawaii residents who bet on sports. Hawaii’s gambling statute broadly defines and prohibits gambling and is not limited to operators, creating more legal exposure than grey area states. In practice, enforcement has targeted illegal bookmaking operations rather than individual bettors. The Sports Betting Alliance estimates Hawaiians currently wager approximately $300 million annually through offshore channels.