Hawaii Governor on sports betting: “I’ll likely let it become law”
Gov. Josh Green said he would support the bill, but only if appropriate measures were put in place.
Key Points
- Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said he would “likely let” sports betting become law
- This would pass as long as there were safeguards, such as gambling addiction services
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has shown support for the bill that would allow sports betting on the condition that it has proper safeguarding measures.
In an interview with local media, Green said: “The world’s changing quite a lot, and what people said in our survey was that if you spend the revenue in a good place, like on [housing], then a lot of people supported it.”
Also according to the survey, up to two-thirds of Hawaii residents support online sports betting, although the records for this have not been made public yet.
Green continued: “As long as there are some safeguards with gambling addiction services and so on, if the legislature goes the whole way, I’ll likely let it become law.”
The bill, HB1308 HD3 SD2, would establish a licensing framework and requirements for operators to conduct sports betting in the state.
It was introduced 22 January 2025, passed the House on 4 March, passed the Senate on 8 April and is currently scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting today.
The next major step would see it signed into law.
Good to know: Hawaii has historically been against gambling of any kind, with concerns that it would bring organised crime and other social problems to the islands
The bill also details the tax that would be levied against operators, as well as how the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund would be established and managed by the Department of Health.
To keep the industry free from crime, criminal history checks would also be performed on applicants or licensees entering the sports wagering scene.
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