Hawaii Sports Betting Bill Heads to Committee to Over Senate Changes

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
04/14/2025
Sports Betting
Photo by Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0

Photo by Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0

Key Takeaways

  • The House rejected Senate amendments to HB1308
  • Lawmakers disagree over the tax rate and licensing fees
  • Many lawmakers believe sports betting is already on the rise in Hawaii

After a miracle run, the Aloha State’s latest sports betting bill faces one final hurdle.

The Hawaii House has rejected Senate amendments on sports betting bill HB1308, sending the bill into a conference. Members from the House and Senate will meet to see if they can reach an agreement that can pass both legislative bodies. 

The committee will have until May 3 to reach an agreement, as that is the final day of the legislative session.

Tax Rate and Licensing Fees Stall Bill

One of the reasons previous sports betting bills have failed is the debate over the operator tax rate and licensing fees. The House stripped those numbers out of HB1308 before sending it to the Senate, hoping it would allow for a more open discussion on what the industry would look like. 

The Senate Ways & Means Committee updated the bill to include a 10% tax rate and a $250,000 licensing fee. The group hopes both legislative bodies will agree on this, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Sports Betting Overcoming Long Odds in Hawaii

While sports betting proponents have concerns over how the committee will proceed, they have plenty of reason to celebrate. When HB1308 was initially proposed, few supporters believed it would reach a Senate floor vote. However, the bill has already cleared the House, the influential Senate Ways & Means Committee, and a full Senate vote.

The bill’s unlikely success is primarily due to the belief that sports betting is already legal in Hawaii. Offshore and illegal bookmakers operate on the islands, leading to problem gambling, which is beginning to rise.

Can Bill Pass with a 10% Tax Rate?

Debates over the tax rate on regulated sports betting have raged across the US. Many states originally set them low but have since fought hard to raise them. The industry's revenue is far greater than expected, as is the damage being done by the rise in problem gambling. 

The fear of problem gambling is the driving force behind the opposition to regulated sports betting. That has led many lawmakers to demand a higher tax rate to help fund public programs to address the issue, arguing that operators should pay their fair share.

Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!