Surf’s Up, Bets Down: Keeping Casinos and Gambling Out of Hawaii

If you are a gambler and planning to relocate to another state in the US, research before moving there. The state has stunning and diverse beaches, grand waterfalls, sumptuous historical cuisines, colorful festivals, tropical climates, and unforgettable volcanoes. But are there casinos in Hawaii?

One thing Hawaii has yet to be known for is casinos. Hawaii has no Omaha, no Texas Holdem, no slots, no blackjack, no roulette, and even no live dealer games. The Hawaiian government has banned the state’s casinos, sports betting, and other gambling activities. Even this opposition reaches the Hawaiian coasts and waters, where gambling on a boat cruise is prohibited.

The state is one of the places in the United States where you cannot legally gamble. But what is the cause of such drastic action against casinos? This casino news will look at the history of gambling and casino bans in Hawaii and the reasons for them.

Are There Casinos in Hawaii? Looking Beyond the Reef

Gambling once flourished in Hawaii at some point when immigrant laborers from different nations – predominantly Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Koreans, Puerto Ricans, and the Philippines – introduced their diverse casino games to the state. This was an era when the Hawaiian sugar industry was recording peak development.

However, gambling started taking a toll on the state, and more people began doing it. The effect of gambling was becoming more pronounced, prompting the Hawaii government to start making laws that prohibit gambling activities.

In the 1840s, Hawaii passed a law banning lotteries. Fast forward to the 20th century, the United States annexed Hawaii, and the new territorial government began to regulate gambling more strictly. When some people looked for how to start an online casino, the parliament passed a law that made it illegal to own, operate, or promote any form of lottery, online or offline. 

This law remained in effect until 1959 when Hawaii became a state. That year, Hawaii amended the state constitution to include a prohibition on gambling, including cards, dice, and any other source of gambling, or gambling funding, like a casino marker.

There have been several attempts to legalize casinos in Hawaii, but the state legislature has rejected them all. Why is Hawaii so opposed to gambling activities?

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A Volcanic Opposition: Casinos Banned in the State of Hawaii 

There are several genuine reasons Hawaii has made gambling an offense in the state, ranging from culture and religion to historical experiences and facts. We’ll briefly look into some of these reasons one after the other.

Morals

Hawaii is a state that values moral etiquette, and many see casino online or live gambling as a contrary practice to these ethical beliefs. Hawaiians believe that gambling can cause addiction, lead to criminal practices, and other social misconduct.

Religious organizations in Hawaii have further propagated this opposing opinion about gambling and casinos, vocalizing that they are against moral standards.

Preservation of Natural Character

Hawaii has a naturally relaxed atmosphere, which it has preserved for centuries. This relaxed atmosphere, including its natural beauty, has always brought friendly tourists into the state. But Hawaiians worry that gambling may cause an influx of unfriendly and hostile people, causing undue changes to the natural character of the state.

Equal Distribution of Wealth

Many Hawaiians believe that gambling can hurt the state’s economy. They think it will cause the diversion of money from other establishments, like restaurants, shopping centers, hotels, and amusement parks, to casinos. Such an occurrence might cause an uneven distribution of wealth across the state. The bulk of financial resources might end up with only a few people in the state.

Exploitation

Hawaii is one of the states that have experienced colonialism, oppression, and exploitation – of human and material resources – for many years. It sees casinos as another source of exploitation of their land as outsiders will come to drain their resources, thwart their culture, and implicate their economy through such establishments. 

Island Ethics and Tiki Tales

In 2023, Hawaii proposed a bill to ban casino advertising. Currently, Hawaii is one of only two states in the United States with a complete ban on all forms of gambling. The other state is Utah. 

The future of casinos in the state doesn’t look promising, as the Native Hawaiian community strongly opposes gambling. The debate over legalizing casinos or any type of game like PokerBet Live Dealer to operate in Hawaii will continue for years.

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