Hawaii Online Gambling
Hawaii maintains one of the strictest anti-gambling stances in the United States. State law prohibits all forms of commercial gambling, including online casinos, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and poker.
As a result, Hawaii online gambling options are practically nonexistent. Sweepstakes casinos serve as a similar but unregulated alternative to online gambling, but players have few options otherwise.
Despite the blanket prohibition, momentum for legalization is building. Lawmakers have considered legislation to authorize online casinos and sports betting, and recent bills have advanced farther than ever.
Continue below for a comprehensive Hawaii online gambling guide. Below, we discuss recent legalization efforts, legal alternatives, and where to get help in Hawaii if gambling becomes a problem.
Legal Hawaii Gambling Sites
21+ and present in HI. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.
Hawaii Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under HRS Chapter 712 (Gambling Offenses) |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Gray Area | Not explicitly prohibited or authorized; unregulated in Hawaii |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Classified as gambling under HRS § 712-1220; prohibited |
| Online Sports Betting (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited as a game of chance under HRS Chapter 712 |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (n/a) | Illegal | AG Opinion 2016-1 deems DFS illegal gambling |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (n/a) | Illegal | Treated the same as DFS; no operators serve the Hawaii market |
| Online Lottery Sales (n/a) | Illegal | No state lottery exists; all lottery activity prohibited under HRS § 712-1229 |
| Online Horse Racing (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited as illegal gambling; no ADWs serve Hawaii |
Hawaii Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Hawaii.
Under HRS § 712-1223, it is a misdemeanor offense to knowingly participate in any gambling activity. The statute’s broad language encompasses online casinos, poker sites, and all other forms of internet gambling.
Meanwhile, HRS § 712-1220 defines gambling as risking “something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence.” Online casino games clearly meet this definition.
The law targets both operators and players, with misdemeanor charges for participating as a player and felony charges for operating an illegal gambling business.
Will Hawaii Legalize Online Casinos?
Hawaii’s legislature has demonstrated minimal interest in legalizing online casinos. No serious online casino legalization bills have advanced beyond introductory committee hearings in recent years.
In 2025, lawmakers introduced several gambling-related measures, including SB 1507 and HB 1434, which would have established the Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation to conduct lottery, poker, and casino gaming. Neither bill advanced.
Additionally, in 2025, lawmakers passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 121, which directed the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study the potential impacts of legalizing online gambling. However, feasibility studies rarely translate into legalization efforts, particularly in a state with Hawaii’s deeply entrenched opposition to gambling.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Hawaii
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area in Hawaii.
Although Hawaii law does not explicitly authorize sweepstakes gambling sites, state statutes also do not specifically prohibit them.
Most prominent sweepstakes casino brands serve the Hawaii market by operating under federal sweepstakes laws and “no purchase necessary” models to distinguish themselves from illegal gambling.
Sweepstakes casinos allow players to participate in casino-style games using virtual currencies. Players typically receive free “Sweeps Coins” through promotions or as bonuses when purchasing “Gold Coins.” Players can use Sweeps Coins to play casino-style games, win additional Sweeps Coins, and redeem them for cash prizes.
However, sweepstakes casinos face significant regulatory uncertainty. State authorities could invoke HRS § 712-1220’s broad definition of gambling to take enforcement action against sweepstakes casinos whose business models closely resemble prohibited forms of gambling.
Popular sweepstakes casinos in Hawaii include:
Hawaii Online Poker
Online poker is illegal in Hawaii.
Real-money online poker falls under the same prohibitions as other online casino games. HRS § 712-1223 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly participate in any gambling activity, and Hawaii courts have consistently classified poker as a game of chance.
Online poker legalization appears unlikely in the near term. Past legislative proposals, such as HB 2259 (2024), which would have authorized online sports and poker wagering, failed to gain traction.
If Hawaii ever legalizes online poker, it will likely occur as part of a broader online gambling package rather than as standalone legislation.
Until state law changes, sweepstakes poker sites will continue to fill the void. However, players should note that Hawaii does not regulate sweepstakes poker online, so they have no recourse in cases of disputes or fraud.
Hawaii Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is illegal in Hawaii.
Hawaii maintains a comprehensive ban on sports betting. However, recent deliberations in the legislature indicate growing interest among lawmakers in legalizing online sports betting in Hawaii.
The 2025 legislative session marked the furthest any gambling legislation has advanced in Hawaii’s history. House Bill 1308 aimed to legalize online sports betting and establish a regulatory framework administered by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
The bill passed the House 35-15 in February 2025 and the Senate 15-10 in April 2025. However, disagreements between the chambers over key provisions, including tax rates, licensing fees, the number of authorized operators, and which state department would oversee regulation, led to the bill’s failure in the conference committee.
Governor Josh Green indicated he would have signed HB 1308 if it reached his desk, marking a significant shift in executive support for gambling.
Other 2025 Bills
- SB 1572: Introduced by Senator Kim Decoite, this bill proposed creating the Hawaii State Sports Wagering Commission under the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. It called for a 15% tax on adjusted gross receipts and $250,000 five-year licenses. The bill stalled in committee and never advanced.
- SB 1569: A companion bill to HB 1308 that proposed a similar regulatory approach. It was deferred by the Senate and did not advance.
Will Hawaii Legalize Online Sports Betting?
Despite HB 1308’s failure, the bill’s unprecedented progress signals growing legislative appetite for sports betting legalization. Proponents argue that regulation would combat illegal offshore wagering, protect consumers, and generate tax revenue for education, housing, and infrastructure.
However, significant opposition persists from law enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, religious groups, and community organizations concerned about increased problem gambling and social costs.
Hawaii Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports contests are illegal in Hawaii.
In January 2016, Attorney General Doug Chin issued a formal advisory opinion concluding that daily fantasy sports contests constitute illegal gambling under Hawaii law.
The opinion stated that DFS contests meet Hawaii’s statutory definition of gambling because participants stake something of value (entry fees) on contests of chance and future contingent events not under their control.
The AG’s office distinguished fantasy sports games from legal “social gambling” by noting that DFS contests typically involve hundreds or thousands of participants, entry fees up to $1,000, and prizes reaching $1 million.
Following the opinion, all major DFS apps ceased operations in Hawaii.
Early Legalization Attempts
In 2016, lawmakers introduced multiple bills to clarify the legal status of DFS. HB 1838 would have legalized and regulated DFS under certain conditions, including a $25,000 registration fee. HB 2111 would have explicitly criminalized promoting fantasy contests. Neither bill advanced.
HB 1308 (2025) included provisions to legalize fantasy sports contests alongside sports betting, but the bill’s failure left DFS illegal.
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Hawaii
Fantasy pick’em contests are illegal in Hawaii.
Hawaii law treats fantasy pick’em contests, where players predict whether athletes will exceed projected stat totals, the same as traditional DFS contests.
Attorney General Opinion 16-1, which declared DFS illegal, applies equally to pick’em-style contests. No mainstream fantasy pick’em operators serve the Hawaii market.
Hawaii Online Lottery Sales
Hawaii does not have a state lottery, and all lottery activity is illegal.
Hawaii is one of only several states without a state lottery. HRS § 712-1229 explicitly addresses lottery offenses and makes it illegal to operate, promote, or participate in any lottery, regardless of whether the lottery is conducted outside Hawaii.
Third-party lottery courier services like Jackpocket and TheLotter do not operate in Hawaii due to the state’s comprehensive lottery prohibition.
Legislative Proposals
Lawmakers periodically introduce bills to establish a state lottery, but none have succeeded. In 2025, SB 1507 proposed creating the Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation to conduct lottery, poker, and casino gaming. The bill did not advance.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Hawaii
Pari-mutuel horse racing wagering is illegal in Hawaii.
Hawaii prohibits all forms of horse racing, simulcast wagering, and advance deposit wagering. No racetracks operate in Hawaii, and residents cannot legally access advance deposit wagering platforms (ADWs).
Proposals to authorize pari-mutuel horse racing have surfaced periodically. In 2000, SB 2196 proposed creating a Hawaii Gaming Control Commission and authorizing horse racing, but it failed. In 2001, HB 835 proposed a five-year pilot pari-mutuel horse racing program, which also failed.
All major ADWs, including AmWager, TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, and DK Horse, are unavailable to Hawaii residents.
Hawaii Gambling Regulators
Hawaii has no gambling regulatory agencies because it prohibits all forms of commercial gambling. Enforcement and consumer protection duties fall to general agencies:
- Department of the Attorney General: Interprets gambling laws, issues advisory opinions, and prosecutes illegal gambling operations.
- Office of Consumer Protection (OCP): Enforces Hawaii’s Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP) law and prize-promotion disclosure requirements that apply to sweepstakes/contests marketed to residents.
- County Police Departments: Enforce gambling laws and conduct investigations into illegal game rooms, which proliferate on Oahu despite being illegal.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Hawaii
Despite prohibiting all forms of gambling, Hawaii residents still access offshore gambling sites, participate in illegal local gambling games, and travel to Las Vegas (often called the “Ninth Island” due to heavy Hawaiian tourism). Problem gambling affects many residents, but the state allocates no public funding for treatment programs.
Self-Exclusion Resources
Hawaii has no statewide self-exclusion program because no legal gambling operations exist.
However, unregulated sweepstakes casinos typically offer individual self-exclusion periods that players can activate from within their account settings.
Responsible Gambling Organizations
- NCPG Hawaii: Operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Available 24/7 via call, text, or live chat. Free and confidential support for individuals affected by problem gambling.
- Hawaii CARES (988): The Hawaii crisis line “988” provides 24/7 mental health and substance use support. Hawaii CARES is not gambling-specific, but it can assist with crisis counseling for gambling-related stress.
- Gamblers Anonymous: Peer-support fellowship with meetings in Honolulu and other areas. Meetings provide a supportive environment for individuals seeking recovery from gambling problems. Hawaii residents can locate meetings at gamblersanonymous.org.
- Gam-Anon: Support group for spouses, family members, and close friends of individuals with gambling problems.
- Kindbridge Behavioral Health: Offers confidential online counseling for individuals and families struggling with gambling addiction. Available to Hawaii residents at 1-877-426-4258.
- Birches Health: Provides specialized gambling addiction treatment via telehealth for Hawaii residents. Insurance coverage may be available.