Gambling Laws In Hawaii
There are a number of laws put in place by the federal government which put a damper on gambling in the United States such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) but these laws are meant to put an end to organized crime, not be a killjoy for the recreational wager. It is only illegal to engage in the business of gambling, not the simple act of placing a bet. This means that anyone in the country is allowed to gamble but finding a venue which is able to facilitate your bet can be a difficult search depending on where you are.
With the federal gaming laws, there is much room left over for each individual state to produce their own rules and regulations on what residents may or may not do in regards to gambling. The gambling laws in Hawaii drastically expand upon the United States' laws, making them one of only two states that have completely and unequivocally outlawed all forms of land-based gambling for profit. HawaiiGamblingSites.com created this guide to Hawaii gambling laws for those who live in, or are planning to visit Hawaii and wish to understand the local legislation as well as how and where to go to gamble safely under the rule of state's law.
Hawaii is a rare state when it comes to gambling and we don't mean that in the Nevada sense. We mean it in the sense that Hawaii is one of only 2 states to outlaw all forms of gambling with Utah being the other. Even though the Aloha State is one of the top vacation and resort destinations in the world, gambling and gaming of any kind is strictly forbidden. The Hawaii state legislature has defined the act of gambling when a person “stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome .” Simple gambling in the state of Hawaii is a misdemeanor which could mean a fine of up to $1000 and/or 30 days spent in a Hawaiian jail without a view of the ocean. What's more than this, as is the case with federal law, is the business, advancement or promotion of gambling, which is a felony and will spell certain doom of extremely high fines and a long stay in prison.
There is good news in all of this, however. The world renowned reputation of Hawaii's “Live and let Live” attitudes is in fact still in play despite these intense anti-gambling laws. There is little to no investigation, enforcement or prosecution of simple gambling in the Aloha state. In fact, with such a strong emphasis on tourism to this small yet gorgeous island state, residents and visitors are largely left alone provided that they do not engage in the business or promotion of gambling. A wager among friends on the Rainbow Warriors or a home poker game will indeed be ignored by authorities. There is even a provision in the state's legislation to make an exception for ‘Social gambling'. This is such a relaxed take on an otherwise very strict set of anti-gambling measures that can be found at §712-1231 in Hawaii's gambling laws. It is recommended that all readers do some research on this statute before deciding whether the type of gaming you're pursuing is considered to be “Social Gambling.”
This ‘Social Gambling' exception pretty much opens the door for legalized gambling so long as it is within the privacy of a residence and not for profit. Residents and visitors alike may do as they wish, just stay home with friends.
Land-Based Gambling In Hawaii
As we just covered above on this page, there is absolutely no legal or regulated gambling in the state of Hawaii. The natural beauty of the islands will have to be enough for those with gambling blood flowing through their veins looking for a land-based live betting scenario. However, one may bet and wager on whatever they wish in a private residence among friends so long as there is no profit being made other than personal winnings thanks to the exceptions made in the Hawaii gambling code for 'Social Gambling.'
Online Gambling In Hawaii
Hawaii's liberal attitudes strike again when it comes to gambling over the internet. There are no laws in place which forbid online wagers and residents may feel free to do as they wish provided that it is not for the business of gambling and facilitating bets. Residents and visitors of the Aloha State have free range to explore the World Wide Web for online betting action so long as the venue taking their bets is located outside of both state and U.S. jurisdictions. There are a vast number of sites which meet these parameters and many of them have been in service to Hawaii locals for decades.
Although gambling is outlawed on land or water in and around Hawaii, the online community offers every major form of gambling which can be accessed from the privacy and comfort of home. Most of these sites are located well outside of U.S. territories such as the United Kingdom, Europe, South and Central America and Canada and despite their long distance locales, are in fact made for the use of American bettors. They have sturdy reputations and offer steady and reliable payouts to rave reviews as even Hawaii residents can receive a check of their winnings in as little as 2 weeks delivered straight to their home address.
Popular Gambling Options In Hawaii:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
Our top recommendation for those wishing to gamble online while in Hawaii is the top notch services from Bovada.lv. Having been in the game for decades, this online gambling site has it refined to a perfect science when it comes to security, privacy, site design, banking transactions and wagering options and types. Every major form of gambling is available whether it be selecting the winner of the Kentucky Derby, the points spread in Warriors' football game this week, a nerve-racking high stakes tournament of Texas Hold‘em or whatever you may choose!
One of the best features of Bovada is their online casino which is open 24/7 and accessible from a desktop, laptop or smartphone. In doing so, users will have access to all kinds of games, the least of which are slots which can be played for some of the highest payouts in comparison to the amount risked. New users will be instantly surprised at the chance to receive a 100% bonus on their initial deposit with the only necessary procedure being to enter the promo code ‘SLOTS500' while depositing their cash. This bonus is good for up to $500, less than other casinos, but it can be claimed numerous times (4x total).
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
There is absolutely no gambling in the state of Hawaii other than in private social settings and the age to lawfully do so is 18 years of age or older. It is the same for residents and visitors who wish to gamble online as any of our recommended sites are accepting of all legally aged adults in the Aloha State.
Best For All Gaming Types
