Hawaii’s latest attempt to legalize online sports betting is facing some serious opposition.After the House rejected changes made by the Senate, House Bill 1308's future...
Honolulu, Hawaii, Passes New Laws Targeting Illegal Game Rooms
To restrain illegal gambling activity, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed 3 new bills on Thursday, aiming to target illegal game rooms.
According to the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), the move follows a year-long campaign that led to the closure of about half of the island’s known gambling establishments.
The newly signed Bills 11, 12, and 13 introduce a multi-pronged approach. Bill 11 requires registration of all gambling devices and gives HPD the authority to confiscate unregistered machines.
Mayor Blangiardi stated at the signing ceremony:
“This is the kind of legislation we owe to the community to take this kind of initiative, provide this kind of leadership, and get stuff done.”
Bill 12 increases penalties for unpermitted work at illegal establishments, and Bill 13 enables the eviction of individuals involved in illegal activity.
HPD Sergeant Leland Kudaishi shared:
“We hope that once the owners are informed and they know that the illegal game rooms are now happening inside of their property, they’re more likely to cooperate with us and not let it continue.”
HPD reports that 60 game rooms have been shut down over the past year, but the problem remains persistent. In Waianae, where 26 gambling sites were once operating, only 11 remain.
City Prosecutor Steve Alm praised the measures:
“I gotta tell you these three bills are great. They are smart. They are innovative. The first one, Bill 11, is going to require the owners to register all these games, and if they don’t, HPD is going to be able to seize them.”
City Councilmember Andria Tupola highlighted the need to remove gambling operations from neighborhoods as community members live next to game rooms where “there is trafficking, shootings, guns.”
State Senator Samantha DeCorte is more concerned about legislation that reduces penalties for offenders under 21. She believes that it sends a message to the shot callers to contact underage killers and tell them, “you gonna get parole, so it’s gonna be okay.”
The city also announced a $1.7 million budget to fund renovations for the upper level of the Waianae police station, intending to boost law enforcement in high-impact areas.
Despite strong opposition from state agencies and Native Hawaiian groups, Hawaii taking a big step toward legalizing online sports betting.The Senate Joint Committee on...
