Lawmakers in Hawaii took a familiar step forward toward legalising online sports betting. Whether another step will follow is the main question.
The Hawaii House Economic Development and Technology Committee advanced HB 2570 last week by a 5-3 vote. The approval came despite heavy testimony in opposition to the proposal to legalise online sports betting in the state.
Among opponents were the state attorney general’s office, Honolulu police and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
The bill would allow for at least six online sportsbooks in Hawaii with a tax rate of 15%. The bill’s listed effective date of “1 July 3000” is meant to allow for further discussion.
It still has two more House committee stops before it reaches the chamber floor for a potential vote that could lead to Senate consideration. There is also an ongoing study committee for gambling opportunities in Hawaii that will conclude later this year.
Last year, a bill attempting to legalise sports betting made it to a conference committee where lawmakers could not agree on a final piece of legislation. Governor Josh Green said he would have signed the bill into law.
Rep Daniel Holt authored last year’s bill and initially included a 10% tax and $250,000 licence fee. House lawmakers stripped those details before sending it to the Senate for further consideration. Senate lawmakers added those figures back prior to its passage. The conference committee could not agree on a final version of the sports betting legislation.
“We put our best effort forward; we got it very far this year, this deep into conference, but it seems as if we have not come to agreement on details: the tax amount, who would operate, would house the operation of the sports betting and give out the license and licensing fees,” Holt said last year, per Hawaii News Now.
Wisconsin online sports betting talks continue
A proposal to allow Wisconsin tribes to operate online sports betting emerged last year before being tabled for further discussion between sessions. Assembly Bill 601 came into the 2026 session with momentum, according to comments from House leadership.
Those “discussions are still ongoing”, Rep Mark Born said during a press conference last week.
Democratic Governor Tony Evers supports tribes taking sports betting online. However, Republicans in the state appear to want commercial entities involved as well.
“While I deeply appreciate Wisconsin’s tribal communities and the many ways they enrich our state, I strongly oppose the proposal for tribal-only mobile sports betting,” Rep Ada Neylon told the MacIver Institute.
Indiana sweepstakes ban moves again
A House bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos in Indiana made its first move in the Senate last week. HB 1052 passed the House earlier this month.
The Senate Public Policy Committee unanimously passed the bill despite Chairman Ron Alting, a sponsor of the bill, wanting to amend it to regulate and tax the sweepstakes operators.
Along with language banning sweepstakes operators, the bill gives more authority to the Indiana Gaming Commission to act against illegal operators.
The Indiana legislature adjourns on 27 February.
New Maryland gambling legislation
Lawmakers in Maryland are looking at HB 518, which looks to “mitigate effects of problem gambling”.
The bill would ban prop bets and credit card funding of accounts and require bettors to set time and deposit limits. HB 518 would codify the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission’s prop bet rule that was created in 2024.
Meanwhile, Senator Ron Watson reintroduced a bill, SB 761, legalising online casinos. It is the third consecutive session Watson has introduced the proposal. Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary also championed the issue in recent sessions.
In previous sessions, the proposal received fierce opposition from local labour groups and members of the National Association Against iGaming contending it would cannibalise land-based casinos and affect jobs.
If it passes the legislature, the issue would go to voters in November to consider final approval.
Washington Senate OKs proposal for in-state college betting
Washington senators voted 41-8 last week to advance SB 6137, which would allow tribal casinos to offer bets on in-state college teams. It now heads to the House.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Adrian Cortes, told the chamber that residents are already wagering on local teams with unregulated operators. The legislation would allow the wagering on teams but prohibit prop bets on in-state college athletes.
“We need to ensure that we protect student athletes and properly regulate sports betting on in-state college teams,” Cortes said.
Sports betting in Washington is limited to tribal lands.
Could Quebec open up to online gambling?
With Alberta nearing its open commercial online gambling market, a coalition is urging Quebec lawmakers to take a similar approach.
The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition sent a brief to the Quebec Ministry of Finance for pre-budget consultation. The brief suggests the province is missing out on $300 million in annual tax revenue.
“Why limit the regulation of online gaming to Loto-Québec sites alone, when the offering available on the Internet is much broader?” QOGC spokesperson Ariana Gauthier said in a release. “Quebec could very well apply the same rules to private online gaming platforms, whether for advertising, age verification, or accountability, for example. This would channel the vast majority of online gaming into a stable and regulated environment, which is desirable for everyone.”
Other recommendations include:
- Forming an independent regulatory body
- Setting Quebec-specific regulatory standards
- Establishing operator licences for private companies
- Allocating revenue to support communities and problem gambling prevention
Pat Evans
Pat covers the legislation and regulation of online gambling in North and South America, having covered the US sports betting industry extensively since 2019.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/gaming/state-gambling-legislation-roundup-hawaii-wisconsin/
