Two house bills were introduced in the Hawaii State Legislature, HB 2765 and HB 2762, on January 24, 2024. House Bill 2765 is for online betting, and House Bill 2762 is for a Casino on Oahu.
A senate bill, SB 935, carried over from 2023, is currently in discussion. In a 2021 investor report, Boyd Gaming, Nevada, stated that more than half of its customers come from Hawaii. They also reported 2011 that their annual revenue from Hawaii was about $600,000,000.
For some people, the money spent by Hawaii residents could stay in the state if gambling was legal in Hawaii. Legalized gambling would bring in additional revenue. However, what about the problems it would cause? A lawmaker talked about the various issues that could arise from legalizing gambling in the state.
Here are a few problems a Hawaii Legislator mentioned: theft, bankruptcy, embezzlement, suicide, child abuse, neglect, divorce, incarceration, and homelessness.
Along with the increased revenue the state will generate from legalized gambling in Hawaii, is the state prepared to address the problems gambling will bring to the state?