Hawaii set to legalize online sports betting and fantasy sports
Hawaii is on the verge of legal sports betting after the state Senate approved a bill to legalize online sportsbooks and daily fantasy sports, according to The Oregonian.
House Bill 1308 passed by a margin of 15 to 10 and will now move back to the House for the Senate amendments to be approved before being signed by Governor Josh Green.
Assuming there are no last-minute problems, Hawaii will become the 40th state of the US to pass sports betting legislation and the first since North Carolina legalized online sports betting in March 2024.
The bill allows for at least four online betting licenses. As Hawaii has no land-based casinos, its sports betting sector will be mobile-only, as is the case with Vermont, Maine, Wyoming, and Tennessee.
The bill is set to take effect on 1 July 2025, and the regulated sector must be launched before 31 December 2025. While a September launch would coincide with the start of the NFL season, other states’ experience suggests that setting up regulations and awarding licenses will take at least four months.
The bill, introduced in January, proposes a fund for problem gambling prevention, a fee of US$250,000 for each license, and a 10% levy on the profits of sports betting operators.
Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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