Along with Utah, Hawaii is the only US state to outlaw all forms of gambling completely. The recently proposed House Bill 1308 gave some consumers hope that sports betting would be legalized, but a failure to agree by its April deadline saw it shelved until 2026.

Hawaii is passionate about a variety of sports, including soccer, tennis, basketball, American football, baseball, cricket, surfing, and other outdoor sports. Because of this, it is believed that the sports betting industry would be the best option for the almost 1.5 million population.

Hawaii has traditionally held out on passing legislation that would allow gambling operations for cultural and social reasons. However, the ease with which Hawaiians can access offshore alternatives has cast doubt on how much longer legislators will hold out. As with other states in the US, it is only the operation of gambling businesses that is prohibited, leaving consumers free to access betting sites from other countries.

Consumers who access offshore betting facilities do so at their own risk, but there are secure and licensed options available. The rise of crypto use has also helped facilitate international transfers, with Bitcoin cricket betting sites, crypto casinos, and other specialist sites all benefitting.

Online gambling experts Caroline and Manisha Mishra explain that crypto sports betting sites are able to offer Hawaiian consumers a wide range of betting markets, competitive odds, and excellent offers. Using crypto also helps players minimize the cost of transferring money abroad and withdrawing winnings.

HB 1308 aimed to legalize sports betting in the state of Hawaii and allow a minimum of 4 licenses that would be issued to approved operators. License costs of $250,000 and a tax of 10% on the adjusted gross revenue of operators were proposed and estimated to be worth between $10 million and $20 million. The bill would also see DFS (daily fantasy sports) markets available.

Rep. Daniel Holt introduced the bill in January, with one of the main arguments in support of legislative change regarding gambling being the additional protections a regulated industry could provide for consumers. While many offshore operations are licensed and must adhere to local laws, there are some less reputable options out there where Hawaiian consumers would have no protection.

A licensed gambling industry would also help local enforcement by minimizing the customer base for illegal operations. The tax the industry would generate would more than cover the cost of legislation and enforcement, and many other states use gambling tax revenue to improve local community projects, infrastructure, and education.

The sticking points that have held the proposal up include the amount it would be taxed, and who would be in charge of licensing. While this puts it on the back burner until next year, supporters have come a long way and will be able to work on these questions and try to change the minds of the House Bill’s opponents so it can join the 38 states (and Washington D.C.) as offering consumers a competitive sports betting market.