Will Hawaii Finally Legalize Sports Betting in 2026?

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The Future of Sports Betting in Hawaii

Despite having passionate sports fans, particularly due to the influence of West Coast sports and major college teams, Hawaii remains one of the states without legalized sports betting. Unlike Alaska, Hawaii sees a significant interest in betting, especially on late-night college sports games played by local teams. However, the state is not capitalizing on this sports betting revenue.

There is current legislation aimed at introducing sports betting in Hawaii, which recently progressed out of committee with a noteworthy amendment. This amendment suggests an effective date for sports betting to be the year 3000, a symbolic move showing a significant delay. Lawmakers are using this strategy to prolong discussions on how best to regulate and implement sports betting without financial outflows to out-of-state companies like FanDuel and DraftKings.

In a state with no existing gaming structures, similar to Utah, establishing legalized sports betting would mean constructing an entirely new regulatory commission. This year, the chances of passing the bill appear slim despite ongoing conversations. Hawaii’s governor supports the continuum of discussion, contingent on the introduction of responsible gaming measures. Thus, while immediate legalization is unlikely, the topic continues to hold interest in legislative circles.