Hawaii Online Sports Betting Guide 2024
Many sports fans may well have wondered: is sports betting legal in Hawaii?
Today, we’re going to take a close look at Hawaii sports betting laws, and what sports betting options are available for those that live in the state. You’ll definitely want to read on if you live in Hawaii, or even if you’re just visiting. This is because in the US, as we’ll explain, whether you can legally bet on sports or not depends on where you are at the time the bet is placed, not where you’re usually resident.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- We answer the question, is online sports betting legal in Hawaii?
- Find out if there are any Hawaii sports betting sites or apps.
- Discover what sports betting apps are legal in Hawaii.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Hawaii?
No, online sports betting is not legal or regulated in Hawaii, and you can’t place bets through any third party within the state, either online or in person
Hawaii, unlike many other legal sports betting states in the US, has not found the revenue enticing enough to regulate and tax it. The closest attempt was the 2024 bill HB2765, which didn’t progress far in the legislative session.
If Hawaii ever legalizes sports betting, it will require more appealing legislation. Additionally, Hawaii prohibits mobile sports betting when you’re physically present in the state.
Our Alternative to Online Sportsbooks in Hawaii: Sweepstakes Bookmakers
Hawaii sports betting laws may prevent residents from betting on sports with real money, but sports betting sweepstakes are still an option. Playing at sweepstakes casinos is free and can even lead to you winning prizes, so it’s definitely something that we can recommend as an alternative to traditional Hawaii sports betting apps.
Fliff
Hawaii residents can use sweepstakes sites such as Fliff, which is a free-to-play social sports gaming site where you can make sports predictions as part of a social contest with other sports fans.
It is true that sweepstakes are allowed in Hawaii, under certain conditions, but the Fliff sweepstakes site currently states that its contests are not open to residents of Hawaii. This means that Hawaii residents will not be able to download and use the Fliff app, unless, of course, they are traveling out of state.
Rebet
Rebet is another play-for-fun-type sports betting site and this one is available in Hawaii, though the site insists that it is the responsibility of the player to ensure that their activities are legal within their state of residence. Players can play using Rebet Coins, which can be claimed daily and used to play games within the app.
There is also an option to use Rebet Cash, which is free to claim or can be won. This can be used to enter sweepstakes on the app and potentially win prizes.
How to Bet on Sports in Hawaii?
So, we’ve established that online betting is illegal in Hawaii. But does this really mean that you can’t bet at all in the state? A Hawaii sports betting locations map would be very bare as there are no legal sports betting locations in the state.
There are no high-street bookmakers in Hawaii and no land-based casinos yet. A common question asked is, when will sports betting be legal in Hawaii? There’s no definite answer to this question either. As soon as we hear any Hawaii sports betting news, we will let you know.
If the state decides to legalize sports betting, it will likely be a slow process. For instance, no one knows what the Hawaii sports betting age would be or at what level the Hawaii sports betting tax rate would be set. However, check back regularly to see if we have a Hawaii sports betting update for you.
Popular Sports and Teams in the Hawaii Betting Scene
You can, of course, bet on Hawaiian teams from outside the state, as long as your sports betting app offers that option. As you might already know, Hawaii is not particularly active in many major US leagues and tournaments, for reasons that are as much logistical as anything else.
However, there’s certainly an active sporting community on the islands and plenty of sports fans following their local teams. College sports are popular in Hawaii, with events such as the Diamond Head Classic basketball tournament and Hawaii Bowl football event drawing lots of attention.
NCAA Division I teams the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine compete at the Big West Conference, Mountain West Conference, and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the three teams in NCAA Division II all compete at the Pacific West Conference.
Other Popular Sports
Other sports that draw crowds of locals and tourists alike include the iconic annual Ironman Triathlon and, of course, a number of major surfing championships such as the Vans Triple Crown and Duke’s Oceanfest, both held in Oahu.
You’ll also find tennis tournaments such as the Hawaii Open drawing the crowds, and a host of golfing events, including the Sony Open, the Mitsubishi Championship, and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Famous Sportspeople from Hawaii
There’s also some great home-grown talent from Hawaii. In the 2024 Olympics, four members of the men’s volleyball team were from the islands. As were surfers John Florence and Carissa Moore, along with one of the US sailing team members, Daniela Moroz.
Other famous Hawaiian-born athletes over the years have included five-time Olympic Medal winner Duke Kahanamoku, UFC fighter B.J. Penn, and golfer Michelle Wie.
Fun fact: Michelle Wie was the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA Tour event.
While Hawaii may not have all the same events that you’ll find elsewhere, sports fans on the island are pretty keen on supporting what they do have. Events such as Oahu’s North Shore surfing contests pull in enthusiastic crowds to watch all the thrills and spills against one of the most stunning backdrops of any sports event worldwide.
The Impact of Local Teams on Sports Betting
The popularity of the state teams would no doubt influence betting trends if sports betting were ever to become legal in the state of Hawaii. There are certainly supporters of the concept, such as Hawaii State Rep. Daniel Holt, who has publicly stated that he wants to legalize sports betting and use tax revenue to address gambling addiction and prevention programs.
So, legalized betting could have a positive impact on both local sports teams and local social programs.
Upcoming Events
Check out some sports events coming up in Hawaii in the near future. Will you be placing bets on any of them? Don’t forget that if you’re a Hawaiian resident who happens to be in another state, you can place a bet if you want, using a local sports betting app.
Are There More Gambling Options in Hawaii?
There are no casinos, lotto games, or scratch cards in Hawaii, no legal poker rooms, and really no way to place a bet of any kind, apart from informally with friends and acquaintances. The only other state with gambling laws as strict as Hawaii is Utah.
The only alternative that is similar to gambling is, as we have mentioned, sweepstakes contests, and even these must abide by a strict set of rules in the state of Hawaii.
Maximizing Your Bets
As you will be fully aware by now, you cannot place a sports bet in Hawaii. But what if you are visiting another state? As long as you obey the local laws, you can place a bet in any state with legalized gambling.
Tips and Strategies for Hawaii Bettors
If you do find yourself in a different state and able to place bets, do your research and make sure that you understand the betting markets, bet types and odds being offered. You can place anything from a straightforward moneyline bet on who will win a specific match, to a props bet on something very specific, such as who will score first. You might also want to consider parlay bets, which try to predict two or more outcomes in the same event or tournament.
I always follow the sports that I intend to bet on, listening to commentators, but also watching the events closely to get an idea about things such as player form and morale. I also compare odds across different apps whenever possible. There’s often some disparity, so this ensures that you’re getting the best odds for your particular bet.
Check out our tips on how to get better at sports betting, especially if you’re inexperienced.
Understanding Taxes and Payouts
One question that many Hawaiian residents have is, when do you have to pay taxes on sports betting winnings? According to the IRS, all winnings from gambling activities are fully taxable, and the Hawaii state tax authorities agree.
Hawaiian residents are taxed on all their income, including anything made out of state or even in another country. So, you will need to declare any winnings from out-of-state sports betting on your tax forms. But don’t worry, as long as you were gambling legally in another state, there are no legal repercussions, only fiscal ones.
To learn more about sports betting taxes in the US, refer to our complete guide.
So, Will You Bet from Hawaii Tonight?
You now know that you can’t place any kind of bet from the state of Hawaii. You also know, however, that you can place a sports bet when on a trip to another state or country, so consider whether you want to plan for this the next time you travel.
You can even claim the same bonus as the locals when you sign up for a sports betting app in another state, so check out our listed sports betting bonuses.