HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

736

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to sports betting.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  Section 712-1220, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "gambling" to read as follows:

     ""Gambling".  A person engages in gambling if [he] the person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under [his] the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that [he or] someone [else] will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.  Gambling does not include digital sports betting on a platform licensed pursuant to state law.  Gambling also does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health, or accident insurance."

PART II

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall establish a pilot program to license businesses in the State to operate digital sports betting platforms.

     (b)  The sports betting pilot program shall operate as follows:

     (1)  The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall issue licenses to operate digital sports betting platforms to no more than five businesses in the State;

     (2)  Each licensing fee shall be $30,000,000 for the duration of the pilot program;

     (3)  Each licensee shall provide an annual report to the department of business, economic development, and tourism of all sports betting earnings and payouts; and

     (4)  The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall provide an annual report to the department of taxation of the payout information for all sports betting licensees.

     (c)  The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall submit to the legislature a report on the status of the sports betting pilot program, including any findings and recommendations, and any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

     (d)  The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2025.

PART III

     SECTION 3.  Section 712-1220, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "gambling" to read as follows:

     ""Gambling".  A person engages in gambling if [he] the person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under [his] the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that [he or] someone [else] will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.  Gambling does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health, or accident insurance."

PART IV

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that:

     (1)  Parts I and II shall be repealed on June 30, 2025; and

     (2)  Part III shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

DBEDT; Gambling; Digital Sports Betting; Pilot Program

 

Description:

Amends the definition of gambling to exclude digital sports betting on a platform licensed pursuant to state law.  Requires the department of business, economic development, and tourism, to develop a pilot program to license businesses in the State to operate digital sports betting platforms.  Provides an amended definition of gambling to be enacted when the pilot program ceases to exist.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.