For most people, Hawaii is paradise on earth. If you are an earnest gambler, however, Hawaii gambling laws can leave you in tears. This is because Hawaii boasts some of the most rigid legislation, as far as gambling is concerned.

This isn’t the end of the conversation, though. To really understand the limits of Hawaii gambling laws and online gambling in Hawaii, you have to be more aware of the legal online gambling in the USA situation. Below, you will find all of the details that will allow you to do just that…

Hawaii Online Gambling Hawaii does not allow any type of gambling, online casino games are no exception. It’s no surprise that daily fantasy sports is also prohibited. Doug Chin, who is the attorney general, stated in 2016 that daily fantasy sports. Hawaii Online Casino Rules When it comes to online casinos and the rules regarding online play, Hawaiian residents are restricted completely. The state has passed no laws to enable online gambling in any form. Unlike other US states that have amended gambling laws, there remains no change in Hawaii. Just as with all other forms of land-based or online gambling, there are no legal casinos in Hawaii. This is because all forms of casino betting are strictly illegal. As such, players based on the islands are not permitted to register or bet at sites, whether they are based in the state, in another part of America, or offshore.

Best Hawaii Online Casino Sites

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Is Gambling Legal in Hawaii?

Bluntly put, no gambling in HI is absolutely not permitted. In fact, all forms of gambling have been deemed as illegal in this state. This includes activities such as lotteries and even bingo. In general, people are not allowed to place bets of any kind within the boundaries of Hawaii.

This legislation doesn’t just apply to the gambling businesses on the Hawaiian islands, either. According to the Hawaiian government, not even cruise ships are allowed to offer such gambling activities or services as long as they are in Hawaiian waters. Therefore, there is no such thing as legal gambling in Hawaii.

The Legal Situation in Hawaii

To start with, let’s take a look at what the legal jargon actually has to say about placing wagers. According to the Hawaii legislation, someone is engaged in gambling if: “He 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.”

As you can see, the lawmakers have been very careful about the terminology that they have chosen. This has been done to cover a broader range of gambling games and activities. Thus, options such as roulette and baccarat are out.
There is more to it, however. The gambling code also covers the following: “Gambling device means any device, machine, paraphernalia, or equipment that is used or usable in the playing phases of any gambling activity, whether that activity consists of gambling between persons or gambling by a person involving the playing of a machine.”

By including this statement, the Hawaii government has also taken steps to crack down on items such as slot machines, video machines, and anything else that can be potentially used to place a wager. In this sense, gambling legislation is quite a bit more sophisticated than in other areas.

Are There Casinos in Hawaii?

It should come as no surprise to learn that there aren’t any Hawaii state casinos. So, if you are hoping to find a list of casinos in Hawaii, you can think again. Such establishments aren’t allowed on government or private land.

This doesn’t mean that people haven’t tried their best through the ages. There have often been businesses that have attempted to start smaller gambling operations in secret where you could play casino games. Eventually, though, these have all come to light and have typically been shut down by the Hawaiian authorities.

Recently, the authorities have taken an even more stringent approach to these illegal casinos that play for real money. As such, they are constantly on the lookout for suspicious establishments and will often place harsh punishments on brick-and-mortar casinos. Due to this, it is best to stay away from these kinds of land-based casinos.

Are There Casinos In Hawaii

The Perspective on Sports Wagers

Now, in most parts of the USA, you will discover that sports betting are allowed to a certain degree. At the very least, citizens are allowed to play wagers on horse and greyhound races. Well, it would appear that Hawaii is the exception to this rule as well.

No citizen or tourist is allowed to place a wager on any kinds of sport. This includes traditional options such as football, baseball, and basketball. The only way that people can make any money in this manner is if they decide to gamble online with offshore websites which are RTG USA casinos mostly here.

Are Online Casinos a Solution?

Since the laws for traditional gambling is so strict, you may be trying to shift your focus to online gambling Hawaii. Well, then you will not be the only one. Many individuals feeling stifled by the current legislation is seeking out online gambling HI as a reprieve.

Before you do this, though, you may want to understand Hawaii online gambling laws first. The thing is, most wagering laws were written a long time ago. As such, they fail to specifically address Hawaii online gambling. So, does this mean that this is legal?

Well, if you were to follow the letter of the law, you would probably discover that the answer to “is online poker legal in Hawaii?” a resounding no. Furthermore, you will notice that there aren’t any online casinos in Hawaii state.

This doesn’t mean that you are completely out of online gambling options, however. This because you still have the opportunity to make use of an offshore online gaming system. Unlike in the case of Hawaii online casinos, offshore sites are not governed by the Hawaiian authorities. As a result, they are out of the reach of such agencies.

Thus, if you were to look up “is Bovada legal in Hawaii”, you would find that it is possible for you to place online wagers there. In fact, you can do so on any online casino that allows American players. This, of course, is as long as the online sites are being operated in a different location.

Are There Any Penalties for Such Online Activities?

It should be noted that the Hawaii government is fully aware that its residents are using such online platforms and casinos. There have been instances where lawmakers have stated as such, in an effort to get the laws changed. Despite this knowledge, very little is done to curb these online gambling activities.

So, if you are considering visiting one of these sites, you can have peace of mind. The Hawaiian authorities aren’t interested in you or how you are spending your money online at these casinos. They are more concerned with the physical gambling operations on the Hawaiian islands. So, there shouldn’t be any obstacles to your online wagering.

Not to mention, in the unlikely instance that you are caught, there shouldn’t be any penalties levied against you. After all, there aren’t any particular laws forbidding such online activities or casinos.

Understanding Offshore Websites

As mentioned, offshore online casinos don’t fall under the same jurisdiction as other gambling casinos in Hawaii. Due to this, they are able to safely offer their services to anyone in the US. Still, it is common to feel nervous about placing cash wagers on such online casinos.

This is a logical concern since not all of these online casinos are equally as reputable. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to discover which casinos offer the best online games and activities. By reading reviews, you should be able to pinpoint what the right casinos for you are.
Furthermore, an increasing number of casinos are becoming licensed by foreign agencies. By receiving such accreditations, casinos are vowing to follow certain rules and to maintain specific standards online. What’s more, these regulatory agencies also frequently investigate casinos to ensure that they are running a legitimate online operation.

List Of Casinos In Hawaii

It should also be noted that you do have to follow certain regulations when using such casino sites. For instance, due to strict laws, there is technically no legal gambling age in Hawaii. However, if you were to visit offshore virtual casinos, you will have to verify your age online.
In most circumstances, the casinos will have to determine that you are at least 21 years of age. There may be a few that also cater to individuals who are 18 years of age or older. These, however, are a bit rarer.

The Future of Gambling in Hawaii

Considering the current state, it is interesting to consider what will become of online wagering in the future. While Hawaii has maintained rather strict legislation regarding casinos and related activities, people have been fighting for change for a long time. In fact, a number of individuals have been put forward amendments to these Hawaii laws.

Of course, each of these legislations has been shot down. Nonetheless, as the rest of the country takes a more relaxed approach to wagering, Hawaii just may come around as well. As you can imagine, this isn’t going to happen overnight. It could be years before there is any real change. Nevertheless, there is some evidence to give hungry gamblers some hope.

There is no denying that Hawaii has some of the strictest gambling and casino laws in the country. This, however, is when it comes to land-based casinos. If you were to consider the online casino route, though, you would discover that there are far more opportunities available to you here.

The good news for Hawaiian gamblers is that you don’t have to give up hope entirely when it comes to such matters. You may have to look elsewhere for digital casinos but in the end, the results will be the same. At least until the laws are changed, individuals will still be able to engage in the hobbies and the activities that they truly enjoy.

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Out of all states in the US, Hawaii, Washington, and Utah are the only ones that outlaw all forms of gambling. They even prohibit bingo for charitable purposes. The definition of gambling Hawaii’s law is as follows — “betting something of value on a contest of chance.” The Aloha state’s government considers gambling to be a misdemeanor offense.

Since there aren’t any brick-and-mortar casinos, a lot of Hawaiian citizens decide to breach the law and play in either offshore casinos or underground gambling establishments. We strongly recommend that you avoid both.

This article is an in-depth overview of the gambling laws in Hawaii and covers the specifics of what you can and can’t do regarding gambling. The article will also guide you through all forms of gambling that are legal in the state today, as well as provide a comprehensive overview of the state’s most important laws.

Top 5 Hawaii Online Casinos

A Short History of Hawaii’s Gambling Laws

Back in 1778 when Captain James Cook discovered Hawaii, gambling was a popular way to relax among the Aloha state’s citizens during the Makahiki festival. Residents were able to wager on different contests and games from October to February. Even those who didn’t participate in competitions could wager on their outcome.

However, as the festival lost its popularity over the years, in the 1800s the Christian missionaries banned gambling based on ethical grounds. In August 1825, Hawaii’s native chiefs had a meeting and decided to forbid theft, vice, gambling, and violation of the Sabbath.

The Aloha state is a gambling-free zone ever since it joined the United States in 1959. Not even charitable bingo or horse racing are permitted based on the premise that if domestic legislators enabled gambling that would damage the local economy. This state is one of a couple of states that don’t approve a state lottery. To this day, the bills created to change this weren’t approved.

The local authorities believe that the Aloha state shouldn’t try to battle Las Vegas and Atlantic City dominance in land-based gambling. This is because if they were to introduce brick-and-mortar casinos, this would only damage the domestic companies since they would have to compete with gambling establishments over the tourists’ spending.

The Current Gambling Laws in Hawaii and Their Future

Hawaii’s principal gambling provisions didn’t change for the most part ever since Hawaii joined the United States in 1959. The Aloha state is widely different from other States since its amendments have actually reinforced the anti-gambling laws instead of permitting particular forms of gambling.

Like the majority of other law definitions, the ones the Aloha state utilizes are wide enough to ensure that gambling enthusiasts of any specific game can’t state that they weren’t included. According to Chapter 712-1220, Hawaii’s legal definition of gambling is as follows:

“A citizen engages in gambling if they risk or stake something of value upon the result of a future contingent or a game of luck not under their influence or control, upon an understanding or contract that they or another person will gain something of value in the case of a particular outcome.”

There were some attempts in the recent past to legalize gambling. However, they ended very early in the law-making activity and hadn’t even arrived at the committee level, let alone had the chance to be placed at the popular vote. Some of the more notable examples include:

Online Casino Hawaii Resort

• 2010 — A couple of bills for investigating the opening of a committee that would explore the possible expansion of casino gambling and a motion to create a State lottery. Not a single one of them reached anything beyond the floor.
• 2011 — Hawaii almost legalized poker because a bill was introduced defining poker as a game of skill, meaning it would be exempt from the state gambling rules. Unfortunately, the bill didn’t receive a House Finance Committee hearing because of the lack of required public support.
• 2012 — The bill 2242 that appealed to the creation of another committee. This one would explore the legislation surrounding online gambling. Yet again, the bill lost approval before it had the chance to reach a serious debate.
• 2013 — A bill that would push the setup of a Hawaii Online Lottery and Gaming Corporation was proposed. However, it didn’t acquire the state’s approval.

Possible new bills frequently rouse the gambling press, but veteran industry commentators speak of something different — that those opposing gambling are powerful enough in the Aloha state to make sure that the current situation won’t change in the near future.

Even today, Hawaii, Washington, and Utah represent the most rigorous anti-gambling States in the US, with the first permitting only social poker games for its citizens. You should keep in mind that those merely participating in gambling are scarcely touched by the frequent crackdowns and busts. This is because busts and crackdowns target profiteers and organizers, rather than those merely enjoying gambling. If you want to gamble in offshore casinos, you could be breaching the law in its strictest sense, but you’re doing so with the slightest risk of the government persecuting you personally. However, you should take legal advice from a Hawaiian lawyer before deciding whether to play online casino games in offshore casinos from Hawaii.

For now, it seems that the future scenario of the island state’s gambling landscape is one of no change. The only way for something to change would be an improbable loss of tourism income. At the moment, the Aloha state seems to be very content with the current zero gambling situation.

What Types of Gambling Are Allowed?

As we said, the Island State’s gambling legislature is rigorous, meaning it forbids any kind of gambling. In other words, you can’t gamble anywhere, including that on ships as well as in gambling establishments of any kind. Not even dog or horse races are allowed. Although social gambling is allowed, it must not be played in a:

• Bar
• Nightclub
• Motel
• Hotel
• Or any company establishment or public place.

Even though you can enjoy social poker in the island state, there exist harsh rules that surround it. For starters, those who organize them can’t profit from being their host. The legislature even says that the one hosting them can’t make money from selling food or beverages.

Online Poker

Not a single form of casino table games, including online poker, is permitted in the Aloha state. While the state’s gambling landscape will change a bit in the future, it’s highly improbable that the legalization of online poker would occur any time soon. With this in mind, any Hawaiian citizen should enjoy private poker games instead of breaching the law by playing online.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Hawaii?

Even though Hawaii doesn’t explicitly prohibit online gambling, the overall legislative situation is rigorous and broad enough to include any kind of online gambling activity. If you were caught gambling in the Aloha state you could be fined up to $2,000 or go to jail for a year. Although particular legislative exceptions exist regarding social gambling, online gamblers can’t exploit them.

Hawaii Gambling Legislature Regarding Indian Tribal Lands

Even states that directly prohibit brick-and-mortar casinos don’t forbid Indian tribes that are present there to open gambling establishments based on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. However, this isn’t the case for Hawaii. Since Hawaii doesn’t have any federally recognized Indian tribes, no such gambling can exist.

FAQ

No, as Hawaii is one of the strictest states regarding gambling.

For now, the answer is no. Hawaii doesn’t even take part in multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball, so its citizens can’t purchase any lottery tickets.

Zero, since gambling isn’t allowed in the Aloha state.

Unfortunately, any kind of gambling is illegal in Hawaii. However you can play at offshore online casinos instead.

The island state’s minimum gambling age is 18. However, Hawaii’s residents can only join social gambling or legally sanctioned offshore casinos.