Folks all across the country love to spend an evening out winning money every now and then, but what about in the nation’s top resort destination? Hawaii is one of only two states to prohibit all forms of land based gambling with not even a lottery allowed to take place within its gorgeous borders. Luckily, for visitors and residents alike, Hawaii has found a way to be lax in its anti-gambling stance and bettors among the pristine shores have a few opportunities to seek fortune if they so desire. We have built this page for all those in the Aloha State looking to brush up on local and federal gambling policies and how to legally place a bet without worry or concern of the law using legal gambling sites open to Hawaii residents.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) primarily dictates the federal policy on online casinos in that no online gambling entity may operate within U.S. territory by accepting or issuing payment over the internet. While this Act hinders any online casino from operating within our country’s borders, it does nothing to prohibit the simple act of making a wager in a game of skill or chance. The average citizen is still able to wager on a game of Blackjack even though the venues to do so are slightly harder to find. The good news is that any of the online casinos for Hawaii players located outside of the United States is legal for use and there are plenty of options to choose from on the immenseness of the internet.
The State of Hawaii may not allow for any licensed land based gambling within its borders, however the internet has no mention in the state’s legislation. This means that locals in the Aloha State are free to follow the guidelines in place by the federal government when looking to make a legal online wager. Any online casino that is located outside of the United States is in legal operation and any Aloha State local is free to utilize the services of such sites if they are not seeking to engage in the business of gambling or facilitate bets for profit other than personal winnings.
Federal laws on sports betting are a bit tighter than those that affect online casinos and online poker rooms. The Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) all play a hand is prohibiting the business of sports betting. While they once again only target the business of gambling or those who facilitate bets for profit, they leave the average citizen able to place a bet on their favorite sports team. Only the venues to facilitate such bets are difficult to come by through the legislation of the PASPA and the Wire Act. Even though land based sports betting is not available outside of exempt locations such as Las Vegas, there are still a number of legal online sportsbooks for Hawaii residents that are legal simply because they are based in a location not bound to federal law.
Local laws follow suit with the federal framework already in place, as sports betting does not exist in a land-based format in the Aloha State. Hawaii is once again one of only two states to outlaw and gambling facilities within its borders however, the state constitution does not make any mention of the internet in its gambling laws. This means that sports bettors in the Aloha State are able to follow the same guidelines and take advantage of the same loophole in place by the federal laws that govern the whole nation. Placing a bet is legal; facilitating bets on U.S. soil is not. This means that anyone in the state of Hawaii may place a bet on any online sportsbook that is not bound to federal regulation without worry or concern of breaking any laws.
The federal policy on online poker is the same as it is for online casinos throughout the United States. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) prohibits any domestically located online poker room from knowingly accepting or issuing financial transactions over the internet. This act focuses on the proprietors of online betting and not the mere participants as the simple act of placing a wager in a hand of cards remains legal. Folks in Hawaii can legally play online poker so long as they visit legal Hawaii poker sites that are located outside of the United States.
The State of Hawaii has further restricted gambling laws for land based facilities but does not add any legislation in regards to gambling over the internet in any capacity. This means for Aloha State players that they may simply follow the above stated rules put in place by the federal government. The business of gambling or facilitating bets for profit on U.S. soil is not legal but placing a bet in a hand of poker is. As is the case with federal regulations, any player in Hawaii will be within the realm of law if only visiting legal online poker rooms for Hawaii residents that are located outside of the United States.
With such a simple condition for legality to be satisfied, many online sportsbooks exist in the legal Hawaii gambling realm. Many of these sites are well aware of our federal loopholes and even tailor their sites specifically for American use. With a strong emphasis on security, privacy and reliable payouts upon request, these sites have successfully been in business for decades to rave reviews by American users. We have provided a link to one of our favorite sports betting sites for Hawaii residents below.
Among our favorite networks to place a wager, is the impressive gambling site hosted by Bovada.lv. Having been active in the industry for well over a decade, this online gambling mecca has been providing the strictest security along with the friendliest customer support and most reliable payouts on the web. Initially started as the American company ‘Bodog’, this impressive network now operates legally from Canada and keeps its services specific to American sports fans.
With every sport imaginable under the Hawaiian sun, bettors in the Aloha State are free to place bets on any league, team or player through a variety of wagering formats. Locals in the area can pick the Rainbow Warriors to beat the spread or even take the fractional odds on a Golfer to take a major tournament. Players can even play an intense game of Blackjack or get into the largest selection of poker tables available in the United States. New users of the sportsbook section score a win just by signing up with a generous deposit bonus of 50% that increases any chunk of change put into a user’s account with free betting money, up to $250.