SB 893 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE ECONOMY.

Summary

Grants twenty-year licenses for casinos in the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and Hawaii Convention Center. Establishes the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission. Imposes fifteen per cent wagering tax on gross receipts. Establishes the State Gaming Fund and Compulsive Gambler Program. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB893_SD1 → SB893_SD1_PROPOSED · 12 edits

MAJOR

This bill establishes a new casino gaming chapter in Hawaii, creating a Hawaii Gaming Control Commission to regulate casino operations at the Hawaii Convention Center and New Aloha Stadium. It defines eligibility requirements for casino operators, sets up a licensing system with fees and bonds, and establishes a wagering tax of 15% on gross receipts. The bill also creates exemptions from certain state taxes and civil service requirements for gaming-related positions.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands state gaming authority by creating a new regulatory framework for casino operations in Hawaii, previously not authorized under state law.

SCOPE

Establishes new Chapter on Casino Gaming authorizing casino operations at Hawaii Convention Center and New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District

DEFINITION

Creates comprehensive definitions for casino gaming, affiliates, suppliers, occupational licenses, and other gaming-related terms

REQUIREMENT

Establishes Hawaii Gaming Control Commission with five members appointed by governor with senate confirmation

Mandates $200,000 bond from casino licensees and $5,000 annual supplier license fees

Requires casino operators to invest at least $50 million in facility development and provide job training for residents

Amends civil service exemptions to include gaming commission positions and related employment

FISCAL

Imposes 15% wagering tax on casino gross receipts with revenues deposited to state general fund

Requires $150 million one-time license fee paid in two $75 million installments

ELIGIBILITY

Sets strict eligibility criteria for casino applicants including no criminal convictions and no involvement in gambling-related offenses

ENFORCEMENT

Grants commission authority to inspect facilities, seize records, impose fines up to $10,000, and revoke licenses

EXEMPTIONS

Exempts casino gaming from certain state taxes and exempts casino facility construction from property assessment requirements

TIMELINE

Sets 30-day application deadline after commission's initial meeting and 90-day selection period for casino licensees

SB893 → SB893_SD1 · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill introduces a new chapter authorizing limited casino gaming in Hawaii for the first time, establishing a new gaming commission and creating a regulatory framework for casino operations. The legislation defines the commission's structure, licensing requirements, ethical standards, and tax provisions while specifying that gaming facilities can only be located at the Hawaii Convention Center and New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of state legislation by creating a new regulatory regime for casino gaming that did not previously exist in Hawaii, establishing the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission and authorizing casino operations at two specific locations.

SCOPE

Establishes the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission as a new state body corporate with five members appointed by the governor, responsible for regulating casino gaming operations.

REQUIREMENT

Creates comprehensive licensing requirements including a $1,000,000 nonrefundable application fee for casino licenses and $150,000,000 total in license issuance fees ($75,000,000 upfront and $75,000,000 one year later).

Mandates that casino licensees enter into development agreements with the State including a commitment to invest at least $50,000,000 to develop and construct a casino facility.

FISCAL

Imposes a 15% wagering tax on casino gaming gross receipts, with revenues deposited into the state general fund, and establishes a state gaming fund for administrative expenses and compulsive gambler programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Sets strict eligibility criteria for casino applicants including requiring at least ten years of experience operating casinos in urban areas, and prohibits applicants or their qualifiers from having any involvement with wagering on Hawaii collegiate athletics.

DEFINITION

Defines numerous new terms including 'casino facility,' 'casino gaming,' 'qualifier,' 'supplier,' and 'institutional investor' to establish the regulatory framework.

ENFORCEMENT

Grants the commission extensive enforcement powers including warrantless inspections, license suspension or revocation, fines up to $10,000 per violation, and authority to exclude individuals from casino facilities.

TIMELINE

Establishes a 30-day deadline for submitting casino license applications after the commission's initial meeting, with the commission required to select one applicant within 90 days.

TECHNICAL

Removed original bill header information including Senate introduction details and replaced with new formatting and metadata typical of state legislative tracking systems.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to EDT/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 1:03PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Re-Referred to EDT/CPN, WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and recommitted to EDT.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from EDT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 116) as amended (SD 1), with recommendation of recommittal to EDT.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS and be recommitted. The votes in EDT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) DeCoite, Wakai, Fukunaga; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 2 No(es): Senator(s) Kim, Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDT will hold a public decision making on 02-06-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDT.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors