Hawaii Senate approves online sports betting bill
The amended bill will have to go back to the House for final approval.
US.- A bill that would legalise online sports betting in Hawaii has passed the state Senate. The amended version of Rep. Daniel Holt’s HB 1308 bill will now go back to the House for confirmation of an amended tax rate, licence fees and regulatory oversight changes.
The House is expected to agree with the changes proposed by the Senate. After its approval, the bill will go to Hawaii governor Josh Green to be signed into law.
HB 1308 passed the House Representatives on a 35-15 vote in March and was approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, with changes. It would allow a minimum of four sports betting platforms to be licensed from July 1, 2025. Fantasy sports would also be legalised. The sports betting tax rate would be 10 per cent of adjusted gross sports betting revenues. Approved operators would have to pay a license fee of $250,000. Renewal fees would also be $250,000.
An amendment would see the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement regulate the market. Initially, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs would have been the regulator, but director Nadine Ando said she did not feel her department was best suited for the job. The enforcement of the general excise tax on sports betting would be administered by the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Hawaii is one of the few US states with no form of legal gambling. In February, the Hawaii State Legislature indefinitely deferred Senate Bill 893, which aimed to legalise casino gambling in the state. The decision followed strong opposition from various state agencies.
