Online Casinos Hawaii

An argument could be made that Hawaii is the least gambling-friendly state in the USA. There have been very few efforts to expand gambling in HI, and each one has been ill-fated. For this reason, we’ve dedicated this page to discuss the laws and future outlook for online casinos Hawaii.

  • Hawaii gambling laws reviewed by experts
  • Overview of current HI gambling regulations
  • Future prospects of Hawaii online casinos
  • 0 Legal Online Casinos
  • 0 Legal Land-Based Casinos
  • 0 Legal Social Casinos
  • 0 Legal Bingo / Lottery Games
  • Responsible Gaming
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Hawaii Online Casino Laws

Hawaii’s gambling definition and its legality are outlined in the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Here, it is stated that gambling of all forms is a misdemeanor offense. It also highlights activities such as bookmaking and owning a gambling device to be illegal. This broad ban has made it unnecessary for any Hawaii online gambling laws.

Hawaiian lawmakers and residents have historically been against any progress on this issue, and even have laws against gambling on ships and social gambling in public. While there are no gambling expansion laws currently being discussed, you can track any changes in legislation.

Online Gambling in Hawaii

In some states, players without access to online casinos are still able to gamble on the lottery, horse racing, sports, or daily fantasy sports (DFS). In Hawaii, there are no legal online gambling options. In fact, Hawaii is only one of five states that have no legal lottery and have taken a firm stance against DFS. Online gambling in Hawaii is therefore strictly prohibited.


The History of Gambling in Hawaii

Gambling has been illegal in Hawaii from the moment it was declared a US state. Since then, nothing has really changed. That said, that’s not without a lack of trying. The 21st century has seen numerous efforts to introduce Hawaiian online gambling laws. For example, in 2010 several bills were proposed to introduce a lottery and casinos.

These were quickly voted down by lawmakers. To make matters worse, lawmakers declared DFS illegal in 2016 despite the federal government’s position that DFS are games of skill. The following year, a bill was introduced to overturn this stance but it too failed. As gambling is a criminal matter in the state, all issues are primarily overlooked by the Hawaii Attorney General’s Office.


Important Events in US Gambling History

In the USA, all states have the right to enact their own laws on gambling matters. However, this hasn’t always been the case. In the past, several federal laws have been introduced that have limited online gambling expansion unless states create legislation otherwise. The following are the only states that have legalized online casinos and permit licenses:

The Federal Wire Act of 1961

The Federal Wire Act was introduced in 1961 to prohibit sports betting via wire communications such as a telephone in an effort to cut revenues for criminal organizations. This law was later interpreted by certain administrations to also restrict sports betting through the internet. As there are no Hawaii online gambling laws, the law applies to Hawaiians.


Poker’s Black Friday

Black Friday refers to the day that the US Department of Justice shut down three of the largest online poker sites in the world for accepting US players. The sites were found to be breaching the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which essentially outlawed all forms of online gambling.

The event had a huge impact on the national online poker industry, and professional players were without income overnight. Considering Hawaii’s existing tough stance on gambling, this didn’t have a huge impact on the state. However, if online casinos Hawaii were ever to be legalized, lawmakers could legalize online poker.


Popular Online Casino Games in Legal US States

For online casinos experts, it can be worthwhile to predict how a legal online casino industry in the Aloha State would look. This is because, despite Hawaii’s resistance to gambling expansion, online casinos Hawaii aren’t an impossible concept. Already, five states in the USA have legalized online casinos, and this is set to grow in the coming years. Some of these states are already generating over $1 billion a year in online casino revenues, with popular games including video slots, table games, and live dealer games. To form an accurate prediction on what Hawaiian players would enjoy, we have explored the most popular games at online casinos in the legal US states:

Online Blackjack in Hawaii

Blackjack is explicitly forbidden in Hawaii. Not only are there no cardrooms or land-based casinos to play the game at, but even social games cannot be enjoyed for profit or in public. In any case, we would like to explain what the online version of the game would look like if Hawaii online casinos were legalized.

In states with online casinos, players have access to several high-quality variants. This means that some games allow for side bets and multiple hands to be played at once. Importantly, the game has one of the highest return to player rates of any online gambling option, so online blackjack in Hawaii would be one of the fairest games to play.

Online Roulette

Roulette is also illegal to play in Hawaii. Unlike card games, it’s unlikely that players could find a social version of roulette in the state so there really is no way for most players to try it out. In any case, many Hawaiians would be familiar with the game due to its iconic status as one of the most elegant casino games.

Online casinos typically offer American and European variants. The European version is actually fairer as it has only one zero slot, while American roulette has two. This means that there are online options that are actually better for players than land-based games. Online roulette in Hawaii would certainly be popular, especially with live dealers.

Online Slots

Slot machines can’t legally be played anywhere in Hawaii. This is a shame, as these are the most popular casino game in the world. They are beloved due to their extreme variability and lucrative bonus options. There is a neverending number of themes and betting opportunities available, with some games also offering progressive jackpot prizes.

Online slots have even more themes and special features than you’ll find at land-based casinos, with frequent adaptations of TV shows and movies being released. Many online casinos also offer free spins promotions combined with money bonuses for the popular slots. There is even a major Hawaiian-themed game called Aloha! that demands to be played if online slots in Hawaii are legalized.

Online and Video Poker

Like blackjack, Hawaiians are only able to play poker in private social situations if there is no real money being wagered. If online poker in Hawaii were legalized, you could play for real money on either video or online poker games. Video poker is different as it’s played against computers, while online poker is played against real-life players.

The states with online casinos offer single cash games and tournaments for games of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, and much more. Online poker is a great way to improve your skills, and many professional poker players supplement their income by playing online too.

Land-Based Casinos in Hawaii

There are no land-based casinos in Hawaii of any kind. This includes both tribal casinos and cruise ship casinos, making it one of the few states with no casino gambling at all. While some lawmakers are arguing for the creation of a land-based casino, history shows that this is a very unlikely proposition.

Pros and Cons of Land-Based and Online Casinos

Although it is likely to be years until any progress on land-based or online casinos will be made in Hawaii, it’s worth considering which options may be better for you. This is especially the case if you plan to travel to a state that offers both legally. The truth is that both options have perks that make the experience worthwhile.

Land-based casinos are great because they are social, offer entertainment, dining options, and appeal to high-limit players. Online casinos, on the other hand, offer newer games with more variations. They also have games that appeal to low-budget players and facilitate more convenient payment methods.


The Future of Hawaii Online Casinos

Before we can recommend the best online casinos in Hawaii, the state has to show some motivation to make them legal. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem like it will be a reality by the end of 2021 or in the near future. There are a lot of hurdles that the market will have to cross, so we would not recommend you hold your breath waiting.

The Future of Online Gambling Hawaii

There are several gambling-related bills that have been introduced to the Hawaii legislature that could influence the legality of gambling in the future. The first of these would establish a sports betting task force that would investigate and provide recommendations on whether sports betting should be legalized.

The second of these seeks to create a new definition for digital sports betting so that it could be dealt with separately from land-based gambling. This could totally redefine how Hawaii online gambling laws are created. It would also introduce mobile sports betting to provide revenues to state programs.

Another bill aims to legalize and regulate DFS, while yet another seeks to create a casino resort for tourists that could raise funds to help native Hawaiians relocate back to their ancestral lands. Whether or not these bills are successful, it’s easy to see that legislators are beginning to recognize the financial benefits of a regulated gambling market.


Conclusion: Strictly No Online Gambling in Hawaii

As we have covered, Hawaii remains to be one of the least gambling-friendly states in the country. Not only are online casinos in Hawaii illegal, but so too are many common land-based gambling options such as a lottery, horse racing, and even charitable raffles. However, all hope isn’t quite lost yet on gambling expansion.

By the end of 2022, several bills that seek to expand either land-based or online gambling should be tabled. This will give a good indication of whether now is the time to progress on the matter. Unfortunately, due to Hawaii’s isolation, there isn’t a nearby gambling state where locals can travel to try online casinos.

Hawaii has long been a hold-out for all things related to gambling expansion. For this reason, we wouldn’t expect legal online casinos for at least another three years, if ever.
Fred Williams Author and Casino Expert

FAQs About Online Casinos Hawaii

If you have any burning queries about whether real money online casinos in Hawaii will become a reality, we have you covered. In this upcoming section, we’ve provided accurate answers to common questions about gambling in Hawaii so you don’t need to read the whole article.

đŸ€” Are online casinos legal in Hawaii?
No, online casinos are not legal in Hawaii. There are also no legal land-based casinos or cardrooms, and casino gambling is even illegal on cruise ships. Social gambling for profit is also not legal.
🃏 What forms of gambling are legal in Hawaii?
There are no forms of legal gambling activities available in HI. The Hawaiian laws are very clear about the illegality of all gambling activities. Even the lottery and daily fantasy sports, two activities that are widely accepted in other states with strict gambling laws, are not accepted in Hawaii.
​🏈 Is online sports betting also illegal in Hawaii?
Yes, online sports betting is illegal in Hawaii. While there are some future laws that are being considered to create space for a digital sports betting market, this may not come to fruition until 2022 or 2023. Even then, the state’s history of gambling legislation indicates that it will be a tough road ahead for any gambling expansion.
🎰 Are social casino sites legal in Hawaii?
No, social casinos are illegal in Hawaii. This is because these sites profit off players’ social gambling. One of the laws regarding social gambling states that these gambling-style games cannot be played for profit in a public setting. For this reason, we would stay away from any social gambling sites.