Hawaii state Rep. Daniel Holt last week filed a legal mobile sports betting bill that provides no detail on taxes and licensing fees. The bill, which would set the legal wagering at at 18, would allow for digital betting apps but no brick-and-mortar operations in a state that currently allows no gambling and doesn’t even have a state lottery.
The bill was filed Jan. 24, the deadline for legislation to be introduced, and Friday was assigned to the House Economic and Business Development Committee. The bill is one of a handful of gambling proposals filed so far this session in the Aloha State.
Also on Friday, a Senate bill that would allow for a monopoly passed first reading. SB 3376 would allow for one operator to offer digital sports betting and online poker, but no casino games. That bill sets a $50,000 licensing fee and would set the tax rate at 70% for the first year, declining to 5% by the 14th year. State lawmakers are also considering a bill that would regulate and tax fantasy sports.
The House sports betting bill, HB 2765, does not yet have a hearing date. There is no cap on the number of operators that could be approved, and “qualified entities” that could apply for wagering licenses must currently be offering legal betting in “no less than three” U.S. jurisdictions, meaning that national companies like BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, or FanDuel could apply, or small operators like Tipico or Betr could apply.