Key points:
- If passed, tax revenue would be used to fund problem gambling programs
- Other money would be used to fight against illegal gambling around the state
The House Committee on Economic Development and Technology has advanced a bill that could bring legal online sports betting to the state of Hawaii, according to a Hawaii News Now local report.
The committee gave unanimous support to HB 1308 with no in-person opposition, the local report said.
State Representative Daniel Holt has pitched more than one gaming proposal to lawmakers in the past, but with no success.
However, the bill’s supporters say that tax revenue from a legal market could help fund gambling addiction programs and combat illegal gaming throughout the state, according to the local report.
In related news, proposed legislation for iGaming and iLottery has made it past the House committee in Indiana.
The Indiana House Public Policy Committee has passed two proposals one that would allow legal online gaming and allow the Hoosier Lottery to sell tickets online, and one that would permit veterans organizations, bars and charitable entities to house electron pull tab machines.
Good to know: Hawaii currently has no legal gaming
The committee passed House Bill 1432 (for legal iGaming and iLottery) by a vote of 9-2 and approved the pull tab machines bill, House Bill 1433 in a vote of 13-0.
Under the terms of the iGaming bill, the online sports betting tax would increase to 20%, but the rate at retail sports wagering locations would stay at 9.5%.
The bill also mandates that studios in Indiana host live dealer online table games “enhancing efforts to collect unpaid child support from gaming jackpot winners; and improving promotion of the state's 800-9-WITH-IT gambling problem hotline.”
