Hawaii
Gambling Laws 2026

Hawaii allows no form of commercial gambling: no casinos, no sports betting, no online gambling, no lottery. It is one of 3 states where none of the gambling types tracked on this site is legal, based on May 2026 data.

Hawaii is one of the few states where virtually all forms of gambling are illegal. Hawaii has no casino, no lottery, no sports betting, no card rooms, and no charitable gambling of any significance. The prohibition is comprehensive and rooted in a cultural and political consensus that has held for decades despite periodic reform attempts. The legislature has considered lottery and sports betting bills but they have not advanced.

The rationale most often cited is that Hawaii's tourism economy is already strong and that gambling would attract negative secondary effects without proportionate benefit to residents. There is also concern about problem gambling in communities that have limited social services to address it. Those arguments have been politically durable.

For residents, there is no legal way to gamble in the state. That includes online betting — there are no licensed operators for Hawaii. The closest legal gambling is in Las Vegas, about five hours by air. If gambling is part of your lifestyle, Hawaii will require you to either give it up or leave the state to pursue it.

One of 2 states where all forms of gambling are illegal (with Utah). No lottery, no casinos, no sports betting.

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More on Hawaii

Also on Hawaii: the full Hawaii profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Hawaii sex laws guide and the Hawaii country music guide.