Is Sports Betting Legal In Hawaii?
With sports betting becoming more available across the United States, many people have wondered is sports betting legal in Hawaii. Hawaii is often described as a tourist paradise, a place people go for honeymoons and to escape from their daily lives while enjoying white sandy beaches. This is certainly true, but Hawaii is also home to a vibrant culture of locals who call the island home. Just like any thriving culture, you'll find an enclave of sports fans, and generally, wherever you find sports fans, you find questions on how residents can go about betting on sports in a safe and legal manner.
The most important thing to know is that it is not against the law in Hawaii to bet or wager on sports events. There is no law that has ever been passed through any state or federal courts to prosecute anyone participating in sports betting, it is only punishable by law to facilitate such betting. That means that if you were operating an unregulated sportsbook, then you would get in trouble. Average bettors have nothing to fear. Bear in mind that these laws were written primarily to attack racketeering outfits, and it has never been the intention of such laws to go after honest citizens who are merely participating in a hobby by placing wagers on sports.
Land-Based Sports Betting in Hawaii:
If you're paying attention, by now you've noticed a problem. What good can betting on sports possibly be if it's against the law to facilitate any sports betting? That does, in fact, pose a huge problem for Hawaii residents. Since land-based betting operations are not allowed yet, that does not leave any options available for honest citizens. But that could soon change. Lawmakers in Hawaii have surprisingly taken up the issue. Lawmakers drafted up a couple of bills that would regulate and legalize land-based sportsbooks. Unfortunately, those plans have fallen through. But that means that there is interest to make it happen, so land-based sports betting in Hawaii could be coming in the future.
Legal Online Sports Betting in Hawaii:
Fortunately, there is an easy answer. Most online sportsbooks that will accept residents of Hawaii are among the best, and since they are usually based in foreign territories, they do not fall victim to the laws that prevent legal, land-based gambling in the United States. Now you know that and you also know that you can't be punished by law for placing bets in Hawaii, you should feel very comfortable placing bets with any legitimate, established sportsbook. Many of these businesses have been open for over a decade and have developed a strong reputation for great customer service and safe, verified money handling. By betting with a verified online sportsbook, you can rest assured your money is just as safe with them as it is with any online based retailer. If lawmakers decide to take up the sports betting issue again, then it is entirely possible that there will be state-regulated online options in the near future as well.
Bovada Sportsbook - Our Top Legal Sportsbook For The Islands
One great online sportsbook that accepts Hawaii residents is Bovada. Through it's many years of service, the Bovada name has become synonymous with safe and legal online betting. Bovada offers some of the most diverse and complete betting lines in the business, assuring that not only will your money be safe while you play with Bovada, but that you'll have a lot of fun. Act now and you can take advantage of Bovada's special enrollment deal. Upon creating your account with Bovada, you'll be asked to make your first deposit to fund your account. Once you do that, Bovada will match 50% of your deposit up to $250 in free play. It's a great deal, and just one example of the lengths Bovada will go to ensure that not only do you feel safe betting with them, you have a good time doing it.
Top Hawaii Sports Betting Sites
What's The Bottom Line? Will I Get In Trouble For Betting On Sports?
If you don't read the laws to closely, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking it impossible for residents to ever legally and safely bet on sports in Hawaii. Fortunately, that's not the case. Thanks to great online sportsbooks, residents of Hawaii can get on their favorite baseball games, the Super Bowl, or anything in between. This will continue to be the case until lawmakers in the Aloha State decide to reintroduce bills that will legalize sports betting. Once they do that in the future, then there is a chance that sports betting in Hawaii will become fully legal. But for now, just stick with our recommended online offshore sportsbooks and you will not run into any trouble.