SB 1569 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Summary

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Specifies that sports wagering shall not be considered games of chance or gambling. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Feb 26, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB1569 → SB1569_SD1 · 11 edits

MAJOR

This bill introduces comprehensive sports wagering regulations in Hawaii, establishing licensing requirements for operators and suppliers, creating a problem gambling prevention fund, and exempting licensed sports wagering from gambling prohibitions. The legislation sets up a regulatory framework managed by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with specific tax provisions and enforcement mechanisms.

Scope change

Expands state regulatory authority to include sports wagering operations, previously not explicitly covered under Hawaii's gambling laws

SCOPE

Establishes new chapter for sports wagering regulation with definitions covering professional, collegiate, amateur, youth sports, and e-sports events

REQUIREMENT

Requires sports wagering operators to be qualified gaming entities operating in at least three U.S. jurisdictions with mobile application or digital platform approval

Mandates criminal background checks for license applicants and ongoing reporting requirements for material changes in licensee information

Requires voluntary exclusion program for problem gamblers with confidential participant lists shared quarterly among operators

Requires sports wagering operators to display 1-800-GAMBLER helpline in all advertising and maintain monitoring systems for suspicious activity

FISCAL

Creates Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund with legislative appropriations for counseling, treatment programs, and responsible gaming education

Imposes 10% tax on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts for licensed operators and suppliers

DEFINITION

Defines key terms including sports wagering operator, sports wagering supplier, wagering events, winnings, and adjusted gross sports wagering receipts

ENFORCEMENT

Establishes civil violations with fines up to $5,000 per violation or $10,000 for related violations, and criminal penalties for unlicensed operations

TIMELINE

Sets effective date of July 1, 2050, with universal start date for mobile sports wagering within 180 days of section enactment

ELIGIBILITY

Restricts sports wagering operator licenses to qualified gaming entities only, while sports wagering suppliers have separate licensing requirements

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 398) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Kim, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Wakai, Fukunaga ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT, CPN/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 3 co-sponsors