Poker Writer
Hawaii is considering implementing a state lottery, which could open the door to other forms of gambling there, including poker. The Hawaii Tourism and Gaming Working Group studied how other states have used the lottery to determine whether that is Hawaii’s future path.
Discussions over the lottery related to how it could generate money and what that money would go toward accomplishing. The group pointed to how lottery monies could help fund education, as many other states have done.
The lottery debate is not new for Hawaii. It has been a topic of discussion for a decade.
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Tourists Only or Hawaiian Residents, Too?
One of the biggest debates the group focused on was whether a state lottery would be for state residents or for the many tourists who visit Hawaii every year. National games such as Powerball or Mega Millions would be attractive games for tourists.
Some members of the group believed that opening the door to tourists being allowed to participate in national lotteries would become very lucrative.
Gambling Would be a Big Change For Hawaii
Hawaii, along with Utah, is currently the only state where gambling of all forms, including lotteries, is banned. The strict laws against gambling in Hawaii have shaped the state’s culture for decades.
Its islands have long been a huge tourist destination, but because of the laws against gambling, they have never been attractive as a gambling destination like other casino resorts in exotic locations.
In fact, some speculate that interests in Vegas work behind the scenes to suppress gambling legalization in Hawaii because they are aware it could steal some traffic from Vegas. Vegas is sometimes nicknamed “The Ninth Island” for its popularity among Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who flock to Vegas to gamble, since they have no legal gambling options at home.
But all this could change if Hawaii relaxes its laws and allows the lottery. The lottery would be just the first step to allowing other forms of gambling, including sports betting and online gambling. Things like slot machine terminals or casinos have been resisted in Hawaii each time the issue has been brought up.
Hawaiian authorities have also begun to crack down on illegal gambling dens that crop up in the state. Many opponents of legalizing gambling in Hawaii point to gambling addiction and the potential harm to younger citizens.
Poker Possible in Hawaii?
If other forms of gambling are legalized in Hawaii, the door to poker could open afterward. The tropical islands would quickly become a highly desirable venue for poker tournaments, as many tournaments tend to target luxurious locations around the globe to host big events.
Poker exists only in underground forms on the Hawaiian Islands. Some on Reddit suggested that “poker is simply booming in the islands” a couple of years ago, with several underground games around Oahu.
The road to poker would be a long one, as the first steps are determining what the lottery relates to and if other forms of gambling can be opened first. Poker would likely follow that debate in the Aloha State.
