Bill > HB1466

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for social gaming in Hawaii, creating a new regulatory system to authorize and manage a single social gaming facility in a designated tourism district. The bill creates the Hawaii Social Gaming Control Commission to oversee licensing, operations, and regulation of the facility, which will focus on skill-based card games like poker, bridge, and cribbage, with strict rules to differentiate it from traditional gambling. The facility will be limited to 30 tables with no more than 10 players per table, open only to adults 18 and older, and operating between 7:00 am and 3:00 am daily. A key aspect of the bill is its commitment to using revenue generated from the facility to support housing programs, particularly for Native Hawaiian communities, with at least 50% of revenues allocated to organizations addressing homelessness. The bill emphasizes that this is not a traditional casino but a skill-based social gaming environment designed to create jobs, generate tourism-related revenue, and provide economic opportunities while maintaining strict regulatory oversight. The license for the facility will be renewable every ten years, and the facility will be subject to regular audits and assessments by the state auditor to ensure transparency and positive community impact.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1466&year=2026