THE SHORT ANSWER
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There are no casinos in Hawaii. Under HRS §712-1223 (copy read, April 20, 2025), knowingly taking part in any gambling activity is a misdemeanor, and no state agency licenses casinos, a lottery or online casinos. The only exception is social gambling among adults in a private place, under the conditions below.
What Hawaii law says
Gambling is an offense under part III of chapter 712 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Section 712-1223 is short: a person commits the offense of gambling if they knowingly participate in any gambling activity, and it is a misdemeanor. The section was last amended in 2022 (L 2022, c 111, §6). Running or profiting from gambling (“promoting gambling”) is covered by separate sections, and the large-scale version is a class C felony.
The one exception: social gambling
HRS §712-1231 (copy read, March 26, 2024) lets a person charged with gambling defend themselves by showing it was “social gambling”. All six conditions have to be true:
- Equal terms.The players compete on equal terms with each other.
- No cut for any player.No player gets anything beyond their own winnings.
- No cut for anyone else.Nobody profits from it, not even by renting the room or selling food or drinks.
- Not in a business or public place.Not at a hotel, bar, restaurant or any business, and not in a park, public building, beach, school or church.
- Adults only.No player is under the age of majority.
- No bookmaking.Taking bets on future events does not count.
It is a defense the player has to prove, not a license. A home poker game with friends can meet it; a game where the host takes a rake or charges entry cannot.
Online casinos and betting apps
No Hawaii agency licenses online casinos or sportsbooks, so a site that offers them to players in Hawaii is not regulated by the state. If something goes wrong, there is no Hawaii regulator to complain to. Bills to legalize sports betting have been filed in recent sessions; check the Hawaii State Legislature for the status of any bill before relying on a news report.
Planning a casino trip from Hawaii
The nearest legal casinos are on the U.S. mainland. Las Vegas, where our detailed resort guides are, is about 2,760 miles from Honolulu in a straight line (U.S. Census coordinates for Honolulu Hale and the Strip). Every Nevada casino requires players to be 21 or older.
Compare Las Vegas resorts ↗ Gambling age in every state ↗
Sources & dates
- HRS §712-1223 (copy read, April 20, 2025)
- HRS §712-1231 (copy read, March 26, 2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau geocoder (coordinates)
Read on October 24, 2026. The Legislature’s website blocked our region, so we read its pages through the dated Internet Archive copies linked above. Next check due by January 22, 2027. This is a summary of the statute, not legal advice.
Common questions
Are there casinos in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii law makes knowingly taking part in any gambling activity a misdemeanor (HRS §712-1223), and the state licenses no casinos.
Is there a lottery in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii has no state lottery; a lottery is a form of gambling under chapter 712 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Is a home poker game legal in Hawaii?
It can be, as “social gambling” under HRS §712-1231: players on equal terms, adults only, in a private place that is not a business, and nobody, including the host, taking a cut. Bookmaking never qualifies.
Can I play online casinos in Hawaii?
No Hawaii agency licenses online casinos or sportsbooks. A site offering them to Hawaii players is not regulated by the state, and there is no Hawaii regulator to help if a dispute arises.
How far is Las Vegas from Hawaii?
About 2,760 miles from Honolulu to the Las Vegas Strip in a straight line.