Police Shut Down Facility Offering Illegal Gambling in Hawaii

There’s no such thing as legal gambling in Hawaii — and police are making sure to stamp out any illegal gambling on the islands.

Honolulu police said that they had shut down three offerings of illegal gambling in Hawaii, confiscating $12,000 and shutting down all operations. It’s the second time this month that Honolulu police have shut down illegal gambling, and the 28th time in 2026.

Hawai’i remains one of just two states, along with Utah, that don’t allow any form of legal gambling. The Aloha State has discussed several potential forms of gambling, but none have ever come close to becoming law.

Police said their raids are part of a long-term strategy to keep illegal gambling out of Hawai’i.

“These enforcement operations are not simply about shutting down illegal game rooms in the short term,” said Maj. Jerome Pacarro of the Narcotics/Vice Division, in a statement. “Each operation generates valuable intelligence that helps identify those who organize, facilitate, and profit from these criminal enterprises.”

Will There Ever Be Legal Gambling in Hawaii?

While Honolulu police have remained vigilant against illegal gambling on the islands, state legislators have continued to debate the issue. Sports betting in Hawai’i actually made significant progress on a sports betting bill, getting a bill out of committee for the first time in February.

That bill, House Bill 2570, reflected that the Aloha State is nowhere near deciding what it wants. Before making it out of committee, lawmakers added an effective date of July 1, 3000, essentially a signal that they want to thoroughly study the issue.

HB 2570 never made it to the floor of the Hawai’i legislature. Bills regarding sports betting have been introduced every year since 2019 in Hawai’i’s legislature, but none have ever come to the floor for a vote.

Would a Bill For Gambling in Hawaii Gain Approval?

Most likely, yes. Hawai’i governor Josh Green has previously said that he doesn’t oppose sports betting in the state. In 2025, he indicated that as long as an approved bill for Hawai’i gambling has safeguards for addiction, he won’t veto it.

Green’s stance likely hasn’t changed, but two factors might alter the climate in Hawai’i. First, the rise of prediction markets has meant wagers on sports and events has entered Hawai’i, whether the state wants them or not. House Bill 2198 would have amended Hawaiian statutes to exclude prediction markets, but that bill died in committee in March.

The second factor is that former Rep. Daniel Holt (D-Sand Island) won’t be in the Hawaiian legislature in 2027. Holt had been one of the strongest proponents for gambling in Hawai’i, helping write HB 2570. However, he resigned in February to take a position in the executive branch. Without him, it’s not as certain Hawaiian legislators will put forth a new bill in 2027.

There is also the possibility that Green could lose his bid for re-election. However, Green enjoys high approval ratings and Hawai’i traditionally votes Democratic. Because of that, he is expected to easily win a second term.

When Will Gambling in Hawaii Come Up Again?

The new legislative session in Hawai’i will start on Jan. 20, 2027. It’s highly probable that a new bill will be introduced to ban prediction markets. Legalizing betting in Hawai’i remains a long shot, but another attempt is possible.

Until then, police are expected to continue vigilant enforcement against unlawful gambling in the state.