Hawaii is one of only two U.S. states with no legal gambling at all. Here is what that means for visitors, from casino trips and lottery tickets to the bills debated at the Capitol.
Most U.S. states allow at least some form of gambling: a state lottery, tribal casinos, racetracks or, more recently, sports betting apps. Hawaii and Utah are the exceptions. In Hawaii there is no state lottery, no casino, no horse racing with betting and no legal sportsbook, and the state's penal code treats promoting gambling as a crime.
What this means in practice
| Activity | Status in Hawaii (general overview) |
|---|---|
| Casinos and slot machines | Not permitted anywhere in the state |
| State lottery, Powerball, Mega Millions | No lottery; multistate tickets are not sold |
| Sports betting, online or in person | Not legalized |
| Horse racing wagers | No pari-mutuel betting |
| Casino cruises | Ship casinos stay closed in state waters |
Hawaii's penal code also includes a narrow exception for certain social games among friends where nobody makes a profit apart from their winnings as a player. The boundaries of that exception are technical, and this article is a general overview, not legal advice.
Why Hawaii says no
Supporters of the ban have long argued that gambling would change the character of the islands and bring social costs that a tourism economy does not need. Opponents point to tax revenue and to the hundreds of millions of dollars residents are believed to spend in Las Vegas each year. The debate returns to the legislature almost every session.
Bills that came and went
Lawmakers have considered proposals for a single casino in Waikiki, a casino on Hawaiian Home Lands to fund housing, a state lottery and, in recent sessions, regulated sports betting. Some bills advanced further than others, but as of this writing none has become law. If that changes, it will be big news on every island.
For visitors
- Do not expect casinos, card rooms or bingo halls at your resort.
- Betting apps you use at home will typically block wagers while you are physically in Hawaii.
- If you want a casino trip, Las Vegas is the classic add-on – see our Honolulu to Las Vegas planner.
Top photo: The Hawaii State Capitol building in Honolulu. Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
