Hawaii Gambling Laws – Will Gamblers Hear “Aloha”?
This article aims to inform our readers and gamblers worldwide about the Hawaii gambling laws. We will mention the Hawaii social gambling laws and which games are legal according to them. In a different section of the article, we listed alternative entertainments the Aloha State offers until gambling is legalized.
The Hawaii gambling law is strict for all gambling and gaming activities on land, sea and online. Since gambling is illegal, we have mentioned the consequences for committing a gambling crime as it is written in the gambling laws in Hawaii. Below, you can see the main sections of this article. Follow them to find the information you wish to know first or read the article top to bottom. In the end, we have answered the most frequently asked questions about Aloha State gambling.
Hawaii Gambling Laws – Why Gambling Is Illegal?
Hawaii banned gambling in 1959 in the name of family and happiness. Unlike the religious population of Utah, where gambling is considered a sin, the locals focus on preserving nature and peace. Despite the complete gambling prohibition, the legalization of casinos and gambling games is discussed and even has a special part in the legislation.
If you wonder what the gaming situation on the cruise ships reaching the island is, then know that the Aloha State is gambling-free on land, sea, and air. Players who are used to the option of online gaming should also abandon hope because there are no Hawaii online gambling laws. Furthermore, online gaming for money and wagering is illegal. Still, locals and visitors of the state can try registering at the legal US online casinos for 2024.
The active gambling laws in Hawaii are seen as limitations to the developing state industry, so many people are trying to change them. Many hope that once the first licensed casino opens doors, the famous pro gamblers will arrive and bring piles of money and tourists with themselves.
The debate for legalizing casinos, lotteries, and other types of gambling games remains open. Here are the pros and cons of the Hawaii Coalition Against Gambling, the business, and the government authorities alongside the middle ground between the two options:
Such serious discussions were held in every state of the USA before the local authorities made a decision. The autonomy of each one of the 51 states in the USA leads to the differences in the land-based and online gambling laws by state. We are sure that one day the Hawaii laws on gambling will be such that the Aloha State will have casinos and still keep its status of travel, adventure, and rest destination.
Gambling Laws in Hawaii on Gaming Crimes & Penalties
As we already said, all forms of gambling are illegal in the Aloha State and therefore are considered a crime. Even though most Hawaiian people are family-oriented and avoid committing crimes, there are still those who defy the law and inevitably collide with the authorities. All illegal gambling and gaming activities are reported to the police, and the violators inevitably meet the local judges.
For example, players in Hawaii have to stay away from the gambling dens regardless of their age. In the US legal gambling age article, we see that other states have legal gambling age limits, and the juveniles are prosecuted under different regulations and laws. There is no such thing in Hawaii, and therefore all violators are punished with fines, imprisonment, or both, regardless of their age.
The owners and operators of gambling locations also face serious penalties including fines, jail time, or both. Here, illegal activity is considered everything from operating an underground casino and owning slot machines to playing poker with our friends for money. Observers of the games are also pursued by the law as collaterals and accessories’ in crime. Knowing all this, it is recommendable to visit Hawaii to get peace and quiet. At the same time, gambling should be kept for another vacation in Las Vegas, Monaco, or the Macau casinos.
Hawaii Laws on Gambling & Legal Games
The US gambling laws are a main guideline for all states when creating their local gaming legislation. Considering everything we have said so far, our readers may think that people can’t have any fun in the Aloha State. The truth is that there is a Hawaii social gambling law, where we can find a list of all legal and permitted games.
Legal & Illegal Games in the Aloha State
The federal gambling laws in the USA have listed all gaming and gambling activities the state authorities can legalize or ban. In Hawaii, every illegal are commercial gambling games in casinos or other gaming locations. On the other hand, all social gaming, games in private residences, tournaments amongst friends, and every game without monetary wagers or prizes are legal. Here are several examples:
| ✔️ Legal Games in Hawaii | ❌ Illegal Games in Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Home Poker Games | Casino Games (Slots, Video Poker, Roulette, Craps, Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack) |
| Social Gaming | Lottery, Bingo, Keno, Scratch Cards |
| Fantasy Sports | Horse & Dog Races |
| Cribbage | Sports Betting & Commercial DFS |
Seeing the list seems discouraging to players who know the Las Vegas Strip map by heart. Here is a trick that might be useful: all illegal games played in a social environment for fun become legal as long as the Hawaii social gambling law is followed. Knowing this, it is fair to say that every game is legal when played for fun or charity.
Are There Tribal Casinos in Hawaii?
This is a good question, considering that every state with recognised tribes and legal gambling has tribal casinos. Hawaii is one of the few states without Native American casinos because here there are no reservations or tribal territories.
Hawaii Online Gambling Laws
Players, fans of gambling websites, will be disappointed to hear that online gambling in Hawaii is illegal. There are no online gambling laws to regulate gaming, but a bill is waiting to be passed. Until then, gamblers may risk playing at offshore casinos licensed under the international gaming authorities like Malta Gaming Association, UK Gambling Commission, or the Government of Gibraltar.
Aloha State’s Entertainment – Sun, Waves & Food
In the movie National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation, we saw how the Griswold family have fun in Las Vegas, Nevada. This section of our article is dedicated to everything that makes Hawaii a dream tourist destination. This is one of the few places in the world where tourists are welcome all year round and every season offers some interesting entertainment. Here is what you can do in the Aloha State without gambling:
- Aquariums & Zoos: Cat Sanctuary, Sea Life Park Hawaii, and every piece of land and sea on the islands.
- Beautiful Nature: Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, The Road to Hana, zipline tours.
- Hawaiian Cuisine: all-natural shaved ice, Da Hawaiian Acai bowl, Hawaiian plate, Luau stew, poke, saimin, and more.
- Drinks: Hawaiian Margarita, Lava Flow, Mai Tai, and more cocktails.
- Hawaiian Culture: Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, Kapalua Wine & Food Festival, Kauai Chocolate & Coffee Festival, Luau tour, Polynesian Culture Centre, and more.
- Museums: Polynesian Culture Centre, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii State Art Museum, and more.
- Dangerous Nature: Hawaii Volcanos National Park, high waves surfing.
- Observatory: Mauna Kea Summit observatory.
- Outdoor Entertainments: manta rays and sea turtles diving, surfing, golf, bicycle rides, and other sports activities.
- Shopping: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet farmers and street markets, Pearlridge Center, Shops at Wailea, Shops At Mauna Lani, and other markets and malls.
All those options are available for low budget travellers, families, and VIP tourists all year round. It is impossible not to find entertainment while exploring the islands. There is so much to do here that visitors have no time to think about wagering and gambling. We recommend you enjoy every day in Paradise until the Hawaii laws on gambling become a reality. Tourists and locals, who can’t live without wagering, can still try the best NJ online casino sites as long as they are gambling from the territory of the state.
Hawaii Gambling Laws Q&A
Our Q&A section gives answers to Hawaii gambling laws questions. We collected the most frequent inquiries our readers have and provided short answers. If the information here is not enough, we added links to the sections in our article, where you can find more information on the matter.
