New bill seeks to build casinos and legalize gambling in Hawaii

“Considering that we kind of all joke in this community about how Las Vegas is the Ninth Island, this approach is to bring that Ninth Island back home, to bring the revenues back up, to bring the excitement of casino gaming to Hawaii,” stated Senator Glenn Wakai.

A new bill would grant 20-year licenses for casinos in the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and Hawaii Convention Center. It would also establish the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission, impose a 15% tax on gross receipts and create a state gaming fund and compulsive gambler program.

“Today is the biggest gambling day of the entire year. People are doing parlay sheets. They’re betting galore today. Why can’t we as a state legalize that and take a tax off of all of that action taking place?” said Wakai.

Lawmakers who voted against the bill said it could be harmful to communities.

“All of the people who are going to spend their paycheck every couple of weeks with that hope of trying to win— it’s known that when you have access easily to lose your money, you’re probably gonna lose your money if you’re not disciplined,” said Senator Brenton Awa.

Those in favor of bringing casinos to Hawaii said it could lead to fewer illegal game rooms across the state.

“Gambling is happening in our community, kind of in the dark alleys and in some closed quarters. By having it out in the open in a casino, all of those poker parlors that are the scourge of many areas… those will have just no reason to exist,” Wakai said.

Wakai said most of the revenue would go to the Department of Education among other programs.

“For those who might fall into addictive behavior, we have to make sure that we have programs for them. So a small portion will go to that, but a bulk of it will go to education,” Wakai said.