Hawaii is one of only two states, along with Utah, with no legal commercial gambling at all. There are no casinos, no state lottery, no sports betting, no horse racing and no online casino. This guide explains what the law covers, what residents can still play, and what to watch in the legislature.
The Aloha State’s position is long-standing. Hawaii’s penal code treats most forms of gambling as an offense, and lawmakers have so far rejected every proposal to add a casino, a lottery or sports betting, despite bills appearing in recent sessions. For Hawaii residents, that leaves a short list: social games among friends, free-to-play apps, and sweepstakes casinos that operate under a no-purchase-necessary model.
In this article 11 sections
Hawaii gambling: the basics
| Sports betting | Not legal |
| Online casinos | Not legal |
| Land-based casinos | None |
| State lottery | None |
| Horse racing | No tracks; ADW racebooks don’t serve Hawaii |
| Daily fantasy sports | Not offered by the major operators |
| Sweepstakes casinos | Available from some operators |
| Helpline | 1-800-GAMBLER |
Is online gambling legal in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii’s gambling laws, in Chapter 712 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, make it an offense to promote gambling or to gamble outside narrow exceptions, and there is no licensing system for casinos, sportsbooks or online operators. Hawaii has no gaming regulator because there is nothing to regulate.
The main exception is social gambling: a private game among friends in a home, where nobody profits beyond their own winnings, is treated differently from commercial gambling. Anything run as a business is not.
What residents can play
Sports betting
Not legal, online or in person. Bills to legalize sports wagering have been introduced at the State Capitol in recent sessions, but none has become law. Hawaii residents who visit another state can bet legally there while physically inside its borders; our sportsbooks hub explains each state’s rules.
Online and land-based casinos
Not legal. There are no casinos in Hawaii, tribal or commercial, and no online casino licences. Many residents treat Las Vegas, often called Hawaii’s “ninth island,” as their casino destination; our Nevada gambling guide covers what’s legal there.
Lottery
Hawaii has no state lottery and doesn’t sell Powerball or Mega Millions tickets.
Horse racing
There are no racetracks in Hawaii, and the major ADW racebooks, including our partner AmWager, do not accept Hawaii customers.
Daily fantasy sports
The major paid fantasy operators do not offer real-money contests in Hawaii, which has treated paid daily fantasy as gambling.
Prediction markets
Kalshi-style exchanges sell event contracts under federal CFTC oversight rather than state licensing. Hawaii sits in the Ninth Circuit, which in August 2026 held that Kalshi’s sports contracts are likely not swaps, allowing Nevada to regulate them as gambling. Hawaii has no gaming regulator of its own, so the state’s response would come through its attorney general. Our prediction markets guide follows the cases.
Sweepstakes casinos in Hawaii
Sweepstakes casinos are the closest thing to casino games available to Hawaii residents. They let you play for free with Gold Coins or similar, and a second currency (Sweeps Coins) can be redeemed for prizes under each site’s rules. No purchase is necessary to play. They are not licensed by Hawaii, so you have fewer protections than at a regulated casino, and you should read each site’s terms before buying any coin packages.
Sweepstakes casino offers in Hawaii
Funrize AK · AL · AR · AZ · CO · DC · FL · GA · HI · IA · IL · KS · KY · MA · MD · MN · MO · MS · NC · ND · NE · NH · NM · OH · OK · OR · PA · SC · SD · TX · UT · VA · VT · WI
Welcome gift: 125,000 coins
No Promo Code neededNo purchase necessary. 21+. Not available in CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, RI, TN, WA, WV, WY; free-coin mode only in CA, IN, MD, ME, OK. Full terms at Funrize.
- FU
FunzCity AK · AL · AR · AZ · CO · DC · FL · GA · HI · IA · IL · KS · KY · MA · MD · MN · MO · MS · NC · ND · NE · NH · NM · OH · OK · OR · PA · SC · SD · TX · UT · VA · VT · WI
Welcome wheel: 125,000 Fun Coins
No Promo Code neededNo purchase necessary. 21+. Not available in CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, RI, TN, WA, WV, WY; Fun Coins only in CA, IN, MD, ME, OK. Full terms at FunzCity.
- NO
NoLimitCoins AK · AL · AR · AZ · CO · DC · FL · GA · HI · IA · IL · KS · KY · MA · MD · MN · MO · MS · NC · ND · NE · NH · NM · OH · OK · OR · PA · SC · SD · TX · UT · VA · VT · WI
100,000 Gold Coins on sign-up + 10,000 for email
No Promo Code neededNo purchase necessary. 21+. Not available in CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, RI, TN, WA, WV, WY; Gold Coins only in CA, IN, MD, ME, OK. Full terms at NoLimitCoins.
RealPrize AK · AL · AR · CO · DC · FL · GA · HI · IA · IL · KS · KY · MA · MN · MO · MS · NC · ND · NE · NH · NM · OH · OR · PA · SC · SD · TX · UT · VA · VT · WI
100,000 Gold Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins after verification
No Promo Code neededNo purchase necessary. 18+ (21+ where required). Not available in AZ, CA, CT, DE, ID, IN, LA, MD, ME, MI, MT, NJ, NV, NY, OK, TN, WA, WV. Full terms at RealPrize.
These are our sweepstakes partners that accept Hawaii players:
- Funrize: welcome gift of 125,000 coins. No purchase necessary. 21+. Not available in CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, RI, TN, WA, WV, WY; free-coin mode only in CA, IN, MD, ME, OK. Full terms at Funrize. Read our Funrize review.
- FunzCity: welcome wheel of 125,000 Fun Coins. No purchase necessary. 21+. Not available in CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, RI, TN, WA, WV, WY; Fun Coins only in CA, IN, MD, ME, OK. Full terms at FunzCity. Read our FunzCity review.
- NoLimitCoins: 100,000 Gold Coins on sign-up plus 10,000 for email. No purchase necessary. 21+. Not available in CT, DE, ID, LA, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, RI, TN, WA, WV, WY; Gold Coins only in CA, IN, MD, ME, OK. Full terms at NoLimitCoins. Read our NoLimitCoins review.
- RealPrize: 100,000 Gold Coins plus 2 Sweeps Coins after verification. No purchase necessary. 18+ (21+ where required). Not available in AZ, CA, CT, DE, ID, IN, LA, MD, ME, MI, MT, NJ, NV, NY, OK, TN, WA, WV. Full terms at RealPrize. Read our RealPrize review.
Our sweepstakes casino hub explains how Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins work and which states have banned the model.
Why Hawaii says no
Hawaii’s resistance to gambling has deep roots. Supporters of legalization point to tax revenue and to the money residents already spend in Las Vegas. Opponents, including many in the visitor industry and community groups, argue that gambling would change the character of the islands and add social costs. So far the opponents have won every round.
That leaves Hawaii residents who want to bet legally with one practical option: travel. Sports bettors visiting the mainland can use licensed apps in any legal state while physically there, and casino players have dozens of states to choose from.
Avoid offshore sites
Offshore sportsbooks and casinos advertise to Hawaii residents, but they hold no US licence. If a payout goes wrong or your account is frozen, there is no Hawaii regulator to complain to, and using them may break state law. Stick to free-to-play games, sweepstakes sites that state their terms clearly, or licensed operators when you’re in a legal state.
Hawaii taxes on gambling winnings
Hawaii taxes residents’ income, including gambling winnings from other states and prizes from sweepstakes redemptions, and winnings are also taxable federally. From the 2026 tax year, the federal deduction for gambling losses is capped at 90% of losses. Keep records of any wins and losses.
Responsible gambling in Hawaii
Hawaii has no state-run problem gambling helpline, but help is available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER, free and confidential, 24/7, and use the purchase limits and self-exclusion tools that sweepstakes sites offer.
Hawaii gambling in 2027
Another sports betting bill
Sports wagering bills have been introduced in recent sessions without passing. Watch the 2027 session, which opens in January, for a new attempt and for whether it clears a full chamber.
Sweepstakes scrutiny
Several states banned sweepstakes casinos in 2026, including Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Indiana. A Hawaii bill targeting the model would directly affect what residents can play.
Prediction markets in the Ninth Circuit
The Ninth Circuit’s 2026 rulings for Nevada and for California tribes give Hawaii a legal path to challenge Kalshi’s sports contracts if the attorney general chooses to act.
Is any gambling legal in Hawaii?
Hawaii has no casinos, lottery, sports betting or horse racing. Private social games among friends, where nobody profits as the house, are treated differently from commercial gambling.
Can I bet on sports online in Hawaii?
No. Sports betting is not legal in Hawaii. You can bet legally in other states while physically inside them.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Hawaii?
Some sweepstakes casinos accept Hawaii players under a no-purchase-necessary model. They are not licensed by the state, so read each site’s terms carefully.
Does Hawaii have a lottery?
No. Hawaii has no state lottery and doesn’t sell Powerball or Mega Millions tickets.
Do I pay Hawaii tax on gambling winnings from Las Vegas?
Yes. Hawaii residents owe state income tax on gambling winnings, including those won out of state, as well as federal tax.
Where can I get help for a gambling problem in Hawaii?
Call 1-800-GAMBLER, free and confidential, 24/7.
