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Hawaii is a beautiful state that draws millions of tourists to its shores, but it comes as a big surprise to find it is also one of the strictest states that are heavily against gambling entertainment.
Offering the public no land-based casinos or horse races, Hawaii lawmakers are also opposed to the lottery, which is why online casino gambling has become a popular choice for many players who are looking for the thrills and real money betting.
When it first became an official US state, there was a lot of talk of introducing gambling establishments to draw in the tourists, but the local government was opposed to such ideas, thinking casinos and gambling halls would attract tourists away from local businesses and changing the lifestyle is was well known for.
Hawaii Offshore Casino Statistics
- The reality, however, is that an abundant quantity of online casinos offer their services to residents of the state of Hawaii. The laws of the state do not forbid online casinos from catering to residents, and that is exactly how Hawaiians have been finding games for some time now.
- Hawaii Online Casino While there may be no land based casinos in Hawaii nor are there online casinos operating out of the island, Hawaii online casino websites are not totally unheard of in this beautiful U.S. The residents of Hawaii are not barred from logging on to the Internet and playing in online casinos.
- Online Casinos Hawaii doesn’t have any online casinos operating on the intrastate market, but it’s possible for Hawaii residents to join the action on one of the numerous offshore casino sites, which attract players from all over the world.
- Hawaii Online Gambling Local online gambling is illegal and non existent. The gambling laws in Hawaii are clear and ban all forms of gambling including those of online. There are no online casinos, poker, sports betting, bingo or daily fantasy sport.
Hawaii is the 31st most active state that participates in offshore online gambling at casinos as of 2020 with a gross win amount of $8.48m. Hawaii contributes to 0.73% of all offshore casino activity in the.
Hawaii is the 31st most active state that participates in offshore online gambling at casinos as of 2020 with a gross win amount of $8.48m. Hawaii contributes to 0.73% of all offshore casino activity in the United States for 2020. Click here to see a breakdown of all offshore gambling activity broken down by state.
The following is a breakdown of all offshore casino gambling from Hawaii since 2003.
Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Gross Win | $6.09m | $7.56m | $9.69m | $11.79m | $7.57m | $7.37m | $7.12m | $7.11m | $6.63m |
Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020* |
Gross Win | $6.66m | $6.55m | $6.38m | $6.34m | $6.25m | $6.18m | $6.13m | $6.03m | $8.48m |
*Note: Data from 2020 are currently based on estimates.
Source – H2 Gambling Capital
Offshore gambling statistics for sports betting from Hawaii can be found here.
Top Hawaii Online Casino Sites
CASINO | RATING | BONUS | PLAY |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Casiplay | €800 + 100 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
2 | Casoola | $1500 + 200 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
3 | Lucky Days | €1,000 + 100 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
4 | Casumo | €300 + 20 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
5 | Sloty | $1,500 + 300 Free Spins Welcome Bonus | Play Now |
Is Online Gambling Legal in Hawaii?
As it currently stands, the locals in Hawaii are unable to participate in any gambling, unless it is done online through offshore online casinos. The online gambling laws throughout the US are very much a gray area that confuses many players who are looking for gambling entertainment within the law. Over the years, there have been numerous tries to pass any gambling bills but every single one was met with a high number of members in the opposition. Like many other states in the US, Hawaii does not allow online gambling from sites that are based within the US, and to get around this, many players look for offshore online casinos that are licensed and regulated from international jurisdictions.
Different Types of Gambling
While many people in Hawaii argue that casinos and various forms of gambling can actually increase tourism and give the state a good return in revenue, lawmakers are currently sticking to the total ban on all gambling in the state. To get a better idea of what other progressive states have to offer, here is a list of the most common types of gambling entertainment that Hawaii has not allowed to date:
- Charitable gambling – bingo, raffles, pull tabs
- Lottery – through land-based establishments or online
- Horse racing/dog racing
- Pari-mutuel betting
- Land-based casinos/racinos
- Poker halls
- Sports betting
- Online fantasy sports
While there have been many calls to change the laws in Hawaii, there is yet to be a bill related to any form of gambling passed with the local lawmakers. Even with fairly regular appeals to change gambling laws, there are no firm plans to change any laws that are currently in place.
How to Find the Best Hawaii Online Casinos
When looking for some fun and excitement online, there are plenty of online casinos that have a lot to offer players in Hawaii. To get the best experience online, it pays to consider a few important notes before going through the registration process on a casino site:
License and Regulation
Does the online casino have a license to offer gambling for real money online? Even though gambling entertainment is abundant online, casinos still have to have a valid license to offer gambling games to players, no matter where they reside at the time of gameplay. This is one of the best ways to determine if a site is trustworthy or not. There are a few common jurisdictions that offer these licenses, and players are encouraged to check the sites to see which license is held. A quick search online or contacting customer support will get players the answers they need to make an informed decision about playing online.
Good Game Selection
The games a site offers is another important point that many people miss before signing up to a site. Every player will have a favorite type of game, so it makes sense to join a site that offers all of the favorites for maximum entertainment. A quick look through game collections will instantly tell a player whether they would like to join the group or not, which is a great way to save time and hassle with the registration process.
Site Design and Usability
To give players the absolute best experience they can get from an online casino, the site design not only has to look appealing, but it also has to have a good user-friendly layout that is easy to navigate. No one likes to waste time trying to find the games they want or figure out how the site is meant to be used. Players should look for clean modern casino sites that allow them to freely navigate and access sections with little to no direction. Sites with easy to read menus and filters to easily find games or information are the ones that are most popular with gamers online.
How Can I Stay Safe Gambling for Real Money Online?
Before players can place a bet on the games they like most, there is a registration process involved where sensitive information has to be transferred to the main site administrators. Most common information that online casinos need before allowing players to join the group:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Valid photo ID (in most cases)
- Banking information (for deposits and withdrawals)
This basic information is needed to ensure players are who they say they are and to create a registered profile to help protect them against identity theft or players who are looking to take advantage of other player accounts.
Stick to Popular Casino Sites
A quick search online will pull up many online casino results, but how can anyone know which ones can be trusted? The best way to find great online casinos that will give players high-quality entertainment and service is by reading reviews from real players. The majority of reviewers will be fair in their review and go into detail about their personal experience on the site. Online casino reviews are a great way to learn a lot about a site before even checking it out in person. Sites are reviewed on game options, site performance, the quality and speed of customer support, and even the promotional offers that are given to site members.
Set a Gambling Limit
Another way to make the online gambling experience positive and fun is to set a budget aside for bets online. Many experts recommend setting aside a cash limit that players would feel comfortable losing to gambling. This will not only keep expenditures in check, but it also helps keep people in check before gambling turns into a stressful addiction.
Safety and Security
Finally, one thing that pros and novices to online gambling should always look out for is the security features on casino sites. Since every player has to register with legitimate personal information including their banking details, the site they are members of should be as safe and secure as possible. Most popular online casinos will have SSL encryption along with several other levels of security to protect players and their money. Check the footer of the main site page for security information or read through the terms and conditions for more information. If security details are tough to find, a quick message to customer support should be enough for basic security features used on the site.
Contents
Out of all states in the US, Hawaii, Washington, and Utah are the only ones that outlaw all forms of gambling. They even prohibit bingo for charitable purposes. The definition of gambling Hawaii’s law is as follows — “betting something of value on a contest of chance.” The Aloha state’s government considers gambling to be a misdemeanor offense.
Since there aren’t any brick-and-mortar casinos, a lot of Hawaiian citizens decide to breach the law and play in either offshore casinos or underground gambling establishments. We strongly recommend that you avoid both.
This article is an in-depth overview of the gambling laws in Hawaii and covers the specifics of what you can and can’t do regarding gambling. The article will also guide you through all forms of gambling that are legal in the state today, as well as provide a comprehensive overview of the state’s most important laws.
Top 5 Hawaii Online Casinos
A Short History of Hawaii’s Gambling Laws
Back in 1778 when Captain James Cook discovered Hawaii, gambling was a popular way to relax among the Aloha state’s citizens during the Makahiki festival. Residents were able to wager on different contests and games from October to February. Even those who didn’t participate in competitions could wager on their outcome.
However, as the festival lost its popularity over the years, in the 1800s the Christian missionaries banned gambling based on ethical grounds. In August 1825, Hawaii’s native chiefs had a meeting and decided to forbid theft, vice, gambling, and violation of the Sabbath.
The Aloha state is a gambling-free zone ever since it joined the United States in 1959. Not even charitable bingo or horse racing are permitted based on the premise that if domestic legislators enabled gambling that would damage the local economy. This state is one of a couple of states that don’t approve a state lottery. To this day, the bills created to change this weren’t approved.
The local authorities believe that the Aloha state shouldn’t try to battle Las Vegas and Atlantic City dominance in land-based gambling. This is because if they were to introduce brick-and-mortar casinos, this would only damage the domestic companies since they would have to compete with gambling establishments over the tourists’ spending.
The Current Gambling Laws in Hawaii and Their Future
Hawaii’s principal gambling provisions didn’t change for the most part ever since Hawaii joined the United States in 1959. The Aloha state is widely different from other States since its amendments have actually reinforced the anti-gambling laws instead of permitting particular forms of gambling.
Like the majority of other law definitions, the ones the Aloha state utilizes are wide enough to ensure that gambling enthusiasts of any specific game can’t state that they weren’t included. According to Chapter 712-1220, Hawaii’s legal definition of gambling is as follows:
“A citizen engages in gambling if they risk or stake something of value upon the result of a future contingent or a game of luck not under their influence or control, upon an understanding or contract that they or another person will gain something of value in the case of a particular outcome.”
There were some attempts in the recent past to legalize gambling. However, they ended very early in the law-making activity and hadn’t even arrived at the committee level, let alone had the chance to be placed at the popular vote. Some of the more notable examples include:
- 2010 — A couple of bills for investigating the opening of a committee that would explore the possible expansion of casino gambling and a motion to create a State lottery. Not a single one of them reached anything beyond the floor.
- 2011 — Hawaii almost legalized poker because a bill was introduced defining poker as a game of skill, meaning it would be exempt from the state gambling rules. Unfortunately, the bill didn’t receive a House Finance Committee hearing because of the lack of required public support.
- 2012 — The bill 2242 that appealed to the creation of another committee. This one would explore the legislation surrounding online gambling. Yet again, the bill lost approval before it had the chance to reach a serious debate.
- 2013 — A bill that would push the setup of a Hawaii Online Lottery and Gaming Corporation was proposed. However, it didn’t acquire the state’s approval.
Possible new bills frequently rouse the gambling press, but veteran industry commentators speak of something different — that those opposing gambling are powerful enough in the Aloha state to make sure that the current situation won’t change in the near future.
Even today, Hawaii, Washington, and Utah represent the most rigorous anti-gambling States in the US, with the first permitting only social poker games for its citizens. You should keep in mind that those merely participating in gambling are scarcely touched by the frequent crackdowns and busts. This is because busts and crackdowns target profiteers and organizers, rather than those merely enjoying gambling. If you want to gamble in offshore casinos, you could be breaching the law in its strictest sense, but you’re doing so with the slightest risk of the government persecuting you personally. However, you should take legal advice from a Hawaiian lawyer before deciding whether to play online casino games in offshore casinos from Hawaii.
For now, it seems that the future scenario of the island state’s gambling landscape is one of no change. The only way for something to change would be an improbable loss of tourism income. At the moment, the Aloha state seems to be very content with the current zero gambling situation.
What Types of Gambling Are Allowed?
Are There Casinos In Hawaii
As we said, the Island State’s gambling legislature is rigorous, meaning it forbids any kind of gambling. In other words, you can’t gamble anywhere, including that on ships as well as in gambling establishments of any kind. Not even dog or horse races are allowed. Although social gambling is allowed, it must not be played in a:
- Bar
- Nightclub
- Motel
- Hotel
- Or any company establishment or public place.
Even though you can enjoy social poker in the island state, there exist harsh rules that surround it. For starters, those who organize them can’t profit from being their host. The legislature even says that the one hosting them can’t make money from selling food or beverages.
Online Poker
Not a single form of casino table games, including online poker, is permitted in the Aloha state. While the state’s gambling landscape will change a bit in the future, it’s highly improbable that the legalization of online poker would occur any time soon. With this in mind, any Hawaiian citizen should enjoy private poker games instead of breaching the law by playing online.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Hawaii?
Even though Hawaii doesn’t explicitly prohibit online gambling, the overall legislative situation is rigorous and broad enough to include any kind of online gambling activity. Best way to win on slot machines in vegas. If you were caught gambling in the Aloha state you could be fined up to $2,000 or go to jail for a year. Although particular legislative exceptions exist regarding social gambling, online gamblers can’t exploit them.
Hawaii Gambling Legislature Regarding Indian Tribal Lands
Even states that directly prohibit brick-and-mortar casinos don’t forbid Indian tribes that are present there to open gambling establishments based on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. However, this isn’t the case for Hawaii. Since Hawaii doesn’t have any federally recognized Indian tribes, no such gambling can exist.
FAQ
No, as Hawaii is one of the strictest states regarding gambling.
Hawaii Casino Resorts
For now, the answer is no. Hawaii doesn’t even take part in multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball, so its citizens can’t purchase any lottery tickets.
Hawaii Casino Hotels
Zero, since gambling isn’t allowed in the Aloha state.
Unfortunately, any kind of gambling is illegal in Hawaii. However you can play at offshore online casinos instead.
Hawaiian Homes Casino
The island state’s minimum gambling age is 18. However, Hawaii’s residents can only join social gambling or legally sanctioned offshore casinos.