Legal Sports Betting in Hawaii Remains Unlikely

It has now been almost a half-decade since online sports betting in the USA was legalized by the federal government and left up to the discretion of each individual state. In that time, more than half of the country has legalized sports betting in some form—on-site wagering, online gaming or both. And yet, sports betting in Hawaii remains conspicuously absent.

To be sure, the topic of legal online sports betting throughout Hawaii isn't notable solely because the state has yet to make the transition. It is newsworthy precisely because The Aloha State seems entirely uninterested in addressing the subject.

Most weeks and months and even years go by without much updates on the future of sports betting in Hawaii. That's how much of a non-factor the discussion has become.

But the tenor started to shift, ever so slightly, in the lead-up to the 2022 elections. That's how this works: Every two years, each state has the potential for shakeups in their prevailing political party. And with Hawaii's lawmakers skewing heavily Democrat, many wondered if the polls might tilt even further toward "Blue" and open the door for legal sports betting.

Unfortunately for sports gambling enthusiasts living in the affectionately nicknamed "Paradise" of the United States, this hope has proven to be short-lived. Given the results of Hawaii's 2022 elections, we're all but certain they won't be legalizing—or even addressing—the issue of legal sports betting anytime soon.

Democrats Lose Two Key Spots During 2022 Hawaii Elections

The November 8 elections in Hawaii dealt two key blows to the Democratic party: State Representatives Sharon Har and Matt LoPresti were both voted out of office in favor of their Republican counterparts. While the United States saw the Senate flip towards the Democratic party overall, these losses registered as a major loss at the Hawaii state level.

Run-ins with the law appear to have been the downfall for both Rep. Sharon Har and Rep. Matt LoPresti. As Kevin Dayton wrote for CivilBeat.org:

"LoPresti was arrested for alleged drunken driving on June 16, and pleaded not guilty in court. A blood test showed his blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit, but a judge dismissed the charge on Sept. 2 on the grounds that police had no probable cause to arrest him. The prosecution filed a request asking the judge to reconsider, which has effectively drawn out the case and generated more publicity just weeks before the general election. Republican David Alcos bested LoPresti with 56% of the vote to LoPresti’s 40% in updated returns released on Wednesday. LoPresti has represented the areas of Ewa and Ewa Beach in the House for six years.

"Democratic state Rep. Sharon Har is another lawmaker who was arrested in a drunken driving case, and she also lost Tuesday.Har was pulled over for driving in the wrong direction down one-way Beretania Street last year. Earlier this year she won both a dismissal and an acquittal in that case in an unusual pair of district court decisions that cleared her of the charge of driving under the influence of an intoxicant."

These results are staggering for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is incredibly unusual for incumbents like Har and LoPresti to lose. Holdovers typically win bids for re-election until they've used up all of their eligible terms. Secondly, and equally important, Hawaii's House of Representatives now has a Republican majority. This is seen as a blow to Hawaii sports betting hopes, since it is the Democratic party that tends to most enthusiastically favor legal sports betting.

Why Hasn't Hawaii Legalized Sports Betting Already?

It should be noted that a loss of Democratic power isn't the only reason Hawaii won't wind up legalizing sports betting. The state has opposed the issue for so long, in large part because the Democrats haven't pushed for it. At the moment, it's not clear whether sports betting would have been a legislative topic if Sharon Har and Matt LoPresti retained their posts. Har, specifically, is known for being a more conservative Democrat.

Still, the loss of Democratic power in the House of Representatives is nothing if not harmful to the cause. It also spilled over into the Senate. Gil Riviere, a Democratic Senator, lost his re-election bid by just three percentage points to a Republican counterpart. This has given the Republican party even more control over policies in Hawaii.

If we're being bluntly honest, the chances of sports betting even cracking the to-do list at the next round of legislative sessions is next to zero. That's how much the power dynamic has shifted. This, naturally, lends itself to another question: Why has Hawaii been against sports betting for so long?

The answer isn't especially complicated. On the contrary, it's basically twofold. First, Hawaii joins Utah as the only other state to view all forms of gambling as illegal. This includes casinos. There aren't even any tribal gaming establishments on the island. They don't allow Daily Fantasy Sports or have a state lottery, either.

On top of that, conservative lawmakers in Hawaii have maintained the interest in sports betting would be relatively low. Because of their location, Hawaii doesn't have any pro sports teams in any of the major North American leagues. This argument rings a little hollow knowing the internet exists, but it has resonated with policymakers throughout the state.

Hawaii Sports Betting Alternatives

Residents of Hawaii don't have to sit out sports betting altogether. While they can't readily travel to any neighboring states because of their remote location, they can visit any of the sites from our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. Most of these reputable companies will allow you to set up and start using a betting account from anywhere.

And if you're looking for a shred of hope that sports betting in Hawaii will eventually get legalized, we have some good news: It's not impossible.

Hawaii has a handful of powerhouse Division 1 college teams across both football and basketball. If a sports betting bill is proposed that allows the state to tax bets on collegiate sports, there's a chance it receives more support than initiatives built around gambling on professional sports.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that meets all of your sports betting needs: