Hawaii has a 100% ban on all forms of land-based gambling. That includes a ban on betting at land-based casinos, sportsbooks, race tracks, or bingo halls. Even lottery gambling is banned in Hawaii. It goes without saying that Hawaii does not license or regulate online casinos, sportsbooks, or poker sites.
That doesn’t mean Hawaiians avoid online gambling. In fact, individual Hawaiians play for real money at offshore online gambling sites every single day. A lot of Hawaiians gamble online for real money. Keep reading to learn how to gamble online safely in Hawaii without getting into legal trouble.
Table of Contents
Hawaii Gambling Laws at a Glance
- Legal Gambling: Online/Mobile Casino (offshore), Online Poker Sites (offshore), Online Sports Betting (offshore)
- Minimum Gambling Age in Hawaii: 18 (through offshore sites)
- Retail Sports Betting in Person: Banned
- Online Casinos: Offshore
- Online Poker Sites: Offshore
- Online Sportsbooks: Offshore
- Live/In-Play Betting: Offshore
- College Sports Betting: Offshore
- Horse Racing: Offshore
- Land-Based Casinos: Banned
- Land-Based Sportsbooks: Banned
- Land-Based Pari-Mutuel Race Tracks: Banned
- Land-Based Bingo Halls: Banned
- Lottery Gambling: Banned
Hawaii Online Gambling Timeline and History
- 1959: Hawaii Becomes the 50th State: On August 21, 1959, Hawaii officially became the 50th state of the United States, following the approval of the Hawaii Admission Act by the U.S. Congress.
- 2010: Bill to Allow Casinos on Hawaiian Homelands Rejected: In 2010, a bill that aimed to permit the establishment of casinos on Hawaiian homelands was rejected. This bill sought to introduce casino gambling to the state but did not gain enough support to become law.
- 2012: Bill to Introduce Online Poker Regulations Rejected: In 2012, a bill proposing the regulation of online poker in Hawaii was rejected. The bill aimed to provide a legal framework for online poker and establish guidelines for its operation within the state, but it failed to pass.
- 2020: Hawaii Sports Betting Bill Dies in Committee: In 2020, a sports betting bill, HB 1107 & SB 2571, which aimed to lead to regulated sports betting in Hawaii, did not progress beyond the committee stage. The bill ultimately failed to advance in the legislative process.
- 2021: Draft Proposal Approved for a Casino Resort in Kapolei: In 2021, a draft proposal for a casino resort in Kapolei, Oahu, was approved. This marked a significant development in the potential establishment of a casino industry in Hawaii, as the draft proposal indicated progress toward realizing this goal.
- January 9, 2023: Sports Betting and Poker Bill Introduced by Mizuno: On January 9, 2023, State Representative John Mizuno introduced a bill to legalize sports betting and poker in Hawaii. This bill aimed to provide a legal framework for these activities and potentially open the door for regulated gambling in the state.
- January 26, 2022: Bill Defining Sports Betting as a Game of Skill Fails: On January 26, 2022, a bill (HB1973) was introduced that aimed to redefine sports wagering, excluding it from the category of games of chance or gambling. However, the bill did not garner sufficient support to advance in the legislative process and failed to become law.
The Best Hawaii Online Casino Sites List 2023
| Hawaii Online Casino | Best Feature |
| MyBookie Casino | Best Combination Online Casino and Sportsbook |
| Big Spin Casino | The Best for Online Casino Table Games and Live Dealer Games |
| XBet Casino | Solid Combination of Casino Games, Sports Bets, and Live Casino Games |
My Bookie Casino
Is you want real money online casino gambling in Arizona, then MyBookie Casino is one of the best choices you can make. MyBookie has made a sterling reputation for itself since it launched in 2017, offering casino games, live dealer games, and sports bets. Whichever betting options you prefer, you’ll find a full range of gambling games.
MyBookie’s welcome bonus gives players a 150% match offer up to $750. Make a $500 deposit to max out the offer, then clear the 40x rollover requirement. If you prefer, you can accept a 10%, $200 first deposit cash bonus with a 1x rollover requirement. Casino players receive 50 free spins offer on deposits over $50 on Wednesday and a Weekend Casino Bonus of 200% up to $500 on deposits over $100.
MyBookie Sportsbook
Sports bettors receive a $1000 welcome bonus plus a $10 casino chip, a 50% sports welcome bonus, a 25% sports reload bonus, and an 8% horse rebate. When you consider sports betting, MyBookie features a full list of NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB bets. Wager on sports futures like the Masters, The Stanley Cup Playoffs, or NBA Championship odds. Bet on the Enlight Premier League, PGA Tour odds, the Super Bowl, and March Madness.
If you prefer, choose wagers on eSports, volleyball, golf, boxing, and MMA. Wager on less well-known sports, such as Snooker, Lacrosse, Table Tennis, and Futsal. Use the props builder tool to make betting easy, or visit the Live Betting page for the latest in-play bets and micro-bets.
What We Like:
- $1000 Welcome Bonus + $10 Free Chip
- Combines Casino Games, Live Dealer, Sports Bets
- Hundreds of Online Slots and Table Games
- 33 Sports Betting Sections with a Props Builder Tool
- Live Dealer Games with High Limits
- 17 Deposit Methods
What We Don’t Like:
- No Bank Wire Transfers for Withdrawals
- Would Like More Daily Bonuses
Big Spin Casino
If you want a site a specialty gambling site that focuses only on casino games, Big Spin Casino is an option. Big Spin Casino features hundreds of online slots, but it also has so much more than that. The social games section also features several Keno variants, plus a large list of online scratch cards. Meanwhile, you can enjoy 64 different table games ranging from a dozen blackjack games to VIP European Roulette. Enjoy craps, baccarat, several types of roulette, and Casino Hold’em. Play less well-known games like 6Up Pocket Poker, Casino Solitaire, Ride’m Poker, Bonus Texas Hold’em, Blackjack 11, and Oasis Poker.
Big Spin Live Casino
The live dealer casino has all of the games you’d expect in an American live casino: Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Super 6, Live American Roulette, and Live European Roulette. The live blackjack games have bet limits between $10 and $2500, so you should find a game that appeals to you. Early Payout Blackjack is an option, though we wouldn’t recommend it. Live Roulette has betting options between 50 cents a spin and $12,000 a spin, so the bet range is huge.
Big Spin Casino features a 200% signup bonus up to $1000, a 100% reload bonus up to $1000, and a 250% Weekend Reload Bonus up to $2000. It’s rare to find a reload bonus that’s better than the first deposit offer, so pay special attention to the Weekend Reload Bonus. Because it’s redeemable many times (once a week), it’s the most lucrative bonus at Big Spin Casino. If you don’t make sports bets, Big Spin Casino is a great gambling site option.
What We Like:
- 200% Welcome Bonus up to $1000
- 250%, $2000 Weekend Reload Bonus
- Over 60 Table Games with Much Variety
- Hundreds of Online Slots from RTG
- Visa, MasterCard, and 4 Crypto Payment Methods
- Live Casino Games for Penny Players and High Rollers Alike
What We Don’t Like:
- No Sportsbook
XBet Casino
XBet Casino is comparable to MyBookie Casino, though we place it here because its bonus is less lucrative. When it comes to casino games, XBet has everything you would want: hundreds of slots, table games, and video poker games. It has live dealer games, social games, 3D slots, and tournaments.
XBet Casino Live has huge bet limits. Live Blackjack’s min and max bets are a more standard $10 to $2,500, while the Live Roulette games range from 50 cents a spin to $12,500 a spin. Enjoy Live Blackjack, Baccarat, Super 6, American Roulette, and European Roulette.
One thing that sets XBet apart is its online sportsbook. Bet on any sporting event that Americans find important, including NFL games, MLB, NBA, NHL, UFC, NCAA games like CFF and CFB, and NASCAR. Make a wide range of bets on the Phoenix Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, or Arizona Rattlers.
What We Like:
- 100%, $1000 Welcome Bonus
- 50%, $500 Reload Bonus
- Hundreds of RTG Slots
- 3D Slots, Tournaments, and Social Games
- Sportsbook’s Live Betting Platform is Excellent
- 10 Different Crypto Deposit Methods
What We Don’t Like:
- 50x Rollover on Welcome Bonus
Hawaii Online Gambling FAQ
Is it legal to gamble online in Hawaii?
It is legal to gamble online in Hawaii, even though the state government does not legalize, license, or regulate online gambling sites. If Hawaiians operate a for-profit online gambling operation or launch their own online casino, sportsbook, or poker room, they would be prosecuted. Individual Hawaiian residents can gamble in the privacy of their own homes without Hawaiian authorities fining or prosecuting them.
Is it legal to play for real money at Hawaiian online casinos?
Yes. You can sign up and deposit at real money Hawaiian online casinos without legal consequences. You’ll play at offshore online casinos, so you’ll play without consumer protections. That means you must read honest online casino reviews and pick trusted casino sites. Don’t play at Hawaii-friendly casino sites with a reputation for slow or unreliable withdrawal payments.
Is it legal to gamble at Hawaiian online sportsbooks?
Yes, but only if you open a player account and play at offshore online sportsbooks. Let me explain that statement. In the past 10 years, Hawaiian authorities have cracked down on illegal bookmakers who launder their money through offshore online bookmaker sites. That is, the bookie collects money from Hawaiian sports gamblers, then places those bets in an online sportsbook. Not only was the bookie prosecuted, but the bettors also faced legal issues.
Handing your money to a third party on the streets of Hawaii is illegal. If you place bets at offshore online sportsbooks with servers in another country, that is not punished by local authorities. It’s beyond their jurisdiction. Furthermore, offshore online bookmaker sites are licensed and audited in other countries, so they tend to be safe and secure for Hawaiian sports bettors.
Is it legal to bet online at Hawaiian online poker sites?
Yes. Again, it’s a good idea to reach honest online cardroom reviews and place your money online in poker sites known for fairness, safety, and security. You can find online poker sites that guarantee $100K tournaments and a prize pool of $1.5 million or more each week.
What is the best online casinos for Hawaiian real money players?
We suggest three different sites: MyBookie Casino, Big Spin Casino, and XBet Casino. All three have a comparable game selection and set of live dealer games. MyBookie Casino is our favorite pick, because it combines online casino games, live dealer games, and online sports betting. It also ties for the biggest welcome bonus among the three.
Big Spin Casino has the same size welcome bonus as MyBookie, but it does not feature sports betting. XBet Casino has a similar game selection — online casino games, live dealer games, and online sports bets — but its welcome bonus is only half the size of MyBookie’s welcome bonus.
What is the best online sportsbook for Hawaiian online sports bettors?
Once again, our pick is MyBookie Sportsbook. While XBet Sportsbook has a similar set of sports betting markets and live in-game betting options, MyBookie still has a better welcome bonus package. Both are trusted online sportsbooks with a full range of betting options, banking methods, and payout types.
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