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Senate defers bill to legalize large-scale gambling after wide opposition and safety concerns
Summary
After hours of testimony—including objections from the Attorney General, the Honolulu Prosecutor and state consumer protection officials—and more public opponents than supporters, the Senate committee deferred SB 893 indefinitely.
The Senate deferred SB 893, a bill that would authorize large-scale casino gaming and related licensing, after extensive public testimony and formal objections from state law-enforcement and consumer-protection offices.
The deferral came after multiple agencies flagged criminal and public-safety risks. Corey Young of the Attorney General's Office told the committee that the office “has very serious concerns … regarding the likelihood of increased crime or financial crimes,” and urged caution. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steven Alm said a step-change in legal gambling can increase harms: “There’s research showing that in states that have legalized sports gambling, you have, many more, people getting in trouble, and it’s lower income folks,” he said, adding that advertising and remote sports betting already increase exposure.
Why it matters: proponents argued a new gaming industry could generate new revenue for a state facing budget shortfalls, but opponents—among them public-safety officials, community groups and many individual residents—warned of higher rates of problem gambling, domestic violence, human trafficking and other crimes. The committee cited the volume of opposition testimony and concerns raised by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Protection (DCCA), the Attorney General’s Office and the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney when announcing the deferral.
Committee testimony and public input: DCCA witness Nadine Ando and Deputy Attorney General Corey Young both raised regulatory and crime-related concerns in written and oral testimony. The committee heard roughly 69 people in opposition and nine in support during the public-comment period; speakers against the bill included community leaders, faith-based advocates and survivors’ groups. Yasmin Cheney, executive director of the Hawai‘i Commission on the Status of Women, said research ties casino expansion to increased sex trafficking and other violent crimes and urged opposition.
Supporters framed the measure as fiscal policy. Several construction and labor-affiliated testifiers, including Dwayne Bautista and Cody Sulawee (both giving personal or organizational support), said Hawaii needs new revenue sources to cover education and other budget shortfalls. Stanford Carr, representing Aloha Halawa District Partners, told senators passage would make private financing possible for mixed-use development around a rebuilt Aloha Stadium.
Committee decision: After hearing testimony and questioning witnesses, the committee chair said the range of agency concerns and the volume of public opposition outweighed the arguments for moving forward and announced an indefinite deferral of SB 893. The chair explained the decision by citing formal opposition from DCCA and the Attorney General’s Office and broad public opposition.
What’s next: The bill was not advanced; the committee chair announced the indefinite deferral at the decision-making stage.
Ending note: Senators and witnesses repeatedly stressed the tension between the state’s revenue needs and the social risks of legalized gambling; the committee’s deferral leaves the issue active in public debate but halts committee consideration for now.
