Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii
- Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii Oahu
- Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii Five-o
- Legalizing Gambling In Hawaii
- Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii County
Gambling is illegal in the state of Hawaii. There are no exceptions to this law at the moment, and the ban includes all forms of casino games, sports betting, lotteries, poker and fantasy sports. You will see that poker itself is legal within the state, but no bets are allowed to be placed on the outcome, and the game must not be played for money. But there is plenty of illegal gambling and none of it is taxed. If it were taxed, we in Hawaii would have about $50 million in tax revenue added annually. But what about other, legal, gambling?
A statewide operation
Law enforcement agencies in Hawaii are taking a stance and initiating a crackdown on illegal gambling operations. A massive effort is being made to tackle unsanctioned game rooms to stop criminal activity in the state.
80 illegal game rooms are in operation in Oahu alone
The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Honolulu Police Department are working together to stop criminals from running such establishments inside homes and businesses. According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji Price, 80 illegal game rooms are in operation in Oahu alone.
Recent raid arrests
So far, 15 people have been arrested for such operations in residential and commercial areas of Oahu. Police confiscated 60 illegal gambling machines during a recent raid. Lynn Kawano, the chief investigative reporter at Hawaii News Now, posted a video on Twitter of police officers in action.
Officials found individuals operating game rooms in single-family dwellings during the sting. The raided buildings were located in Pearl City and Waipahu.
Authorities send clear message
Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii Oahu
U.S. Attorney Kenji Price stated that the operation is sending a clear message to illegal game room operators. He was quoted as saying:
Our goal is to take your property through civil or criminal forfeiture.”
Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii Five-o
According to Price, illegal gambling attracts other crimes, including arson and robbery. In one instance, one person facing an indictment charge as a game room operator set fire to a warehouse where games were housed. The landlord of the warehouse sent an eviction notice to the individual once he became aware of the operation.
Legalizing Gambling In Hawaii
Is There Legal Gambling In Hawaii County
Police have also linked the illegal game rooms to gun and knife crimes in the state. Currently, six of the 15 people charged due to the crackdown on illegal gambling operations in Hawaii remain at large.