Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House committee advances bill to legalize online sports wagering after hours of debate
Summary
The joint House committee moved HB2570 forward after a contentious hearing where the Attorney General, prosecutors and public‑health officials warned of addiction and enforcement risks, and industry groups pushed that regulation would curb illegal offshore wagering and add consumer protections.
The House Committee on Economic Development, Technology (joined by Labor) voted to move HB2570, a bill to legalize and regulate online sports wagering in Hawaii, after a full day of testimony that sharply divided state agencies, law‑enforcement, public‑health officials and industry groups.
Deputy Attorney General Jordan Ching told the committee the Attorney General—: the department strongly opposes this measure, primarily due to the well‑studied public health and safety concerns associated with legalized gambling, and said the bill as written offers limited regulatory and enforcement tools.
Honolulu prosecutor Steve Ulm said the social cost would fall disproportionately on lower‑income residents and cited research showing most online bettors lose money over time. "Sports betting affects lower income folks more than upper income folks," Ulm said, warning that problem gamblers account for a…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
