Hawaii Senate passes legislation for online sports betting and DFS
The measure, HB1308, cleared the Senate with a 15-10 vote and will now be sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence following several amendments.
Key Points
- The legislation outlines provisions for licensing at least four online sportsbook operators and includes regulations for DFS
- If approved by the House, HB1308 would then move to Governor Josh Green for his signature and final approval
After remaining as one of only two states across the US to prohibit gambling of any type, the Hawaii Senate has officially passed legislation that would legalize online sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS). Hawaii and Utah are currently the only states without any form of casinos, horse tracks, sports betting offering or a state lottery.
The measure, HB1308, cleared the Senate with a 15-10 majority vote and will now be sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence following several amendments. If approved, the bill would move to Governor Josh Green for his signature and final approval.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to advance HB1308, though several members reportedly did so “with reservations,” showcasing the political uncertainty remaining for the legislation.
The legislation outlines provisions for licensing at least four online sportsbook operators and includes regulations for DFS. The bill also reinstates a 10% tax rate on operator revenue and sets a licensing fee of $250,000, restoring provisions that were momentarily left undefined during the early stages of the legislative process.
Good to know: The Hawaii State Legislature chose to end the push for legalized casino gambling in the state by deferring Senate Bill 893 on February 14, which would have established a Hawaii Gaming Control Commission to oversee casinos added to the new Aloha Stadium Entertainment District
While HB1308 calls for the Department of Law Enforcement to oversee regulatory procedures, the legislation’s proposed implementation date of July 1, 2025 reportedly concerns lawmakers, given the Department would have less than three months to hire personnel and establish regulation.
The Department of Taxation also indicated that the current version of HB1308 lacks clarity on how to tax industry suppliers, an issue that is expected to be addressed when the bill returns to the House of Representatives.
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