Betting in Hawaii
Online Betting In Hawaii
Hawaii is, along with Utah, one of only two U.S. states with no legalized gambling of any kind. No casinos, no lottery, no sportsbooks, and no daily fantasy contests. Lawmakers introduce gaming bills almost every session, but decades of staunch opposition have kept the islands completely off-limits to regulated wagering.
Still, that doesn’t mean residents have no options.
- Social sportsbooks offer a legal workaround, using virtual coins and prize-based systems that comply with federal sweepstakes law. Looking just like a regular sportsbook, here you can make picks and redeem winnings for cash prizes, all without violating Hawaii’s gambling code.
- Social Casinos will also allow you to play your favorite table games, slots, and live casino games and redeem real money prizes under the same sweepstakes model.
- Prediction markets are also fair game. Platforms like Kalshi operate under federal oversight, allowing Hawaiians to trade on real-world events - from sports outcomes to political races & culture - in a completely lawful, regulated setting.
For now, these alternatives are as close as the Aloha State gets to real wagering. With no signs of legislative change on the horizon, social, sweepstakes, and prediction platforms remain the only legal - and practical - outlets for Hawaiians looking to play.
Legal Betting Formats in Hawaii TL;DR
✔ Social/Sweepstakes Sportsbooks
✔ Prediction Markets
✔ Social/Sweepstakes Casinos
❌ Online Sportsbooks
❌ Online Casinos
❌ DFS Traditional
❌ DFS Pick’em
Unfamiliar with some of these betting formats? Read our beginner's guide to all type of legal betting in the US.
List of All Betting Platforms Operating In Hawaii
Things move fast in the U.S. betting world - new platforms and formats are emerging all the time, each pushing the boundaries of how Americans play and win.
To keep you ahead of the curve, we routinely scan the entire betting landscape and verify every active platform legally available to players in Hawaii.
Below, you’ll find the most up-to-date, definitive list of sites where Hawaiians can legally play, speculate, or compete for real prizes - all checked and confirmed by our team.
Social Sportsbooks
| Platform | Website |
|---|---|
| Legendz | legendz.com |
| ProphetX | prophetx.co |
| NoVig | novig.us |
| Onyx Odds | onyxodds.com |
| Rebet | rebet.app |
| BettorEdge | bettoredge.com |
| WagerLab | wagerlab.com |
Prediction Markets
| Platform | Website |
|---|---|
| Kalshi | kalshi.com |
| Polymarket | polymarket.com |
| Robinhood Prediction Markets | robinhood.com/us/en/prediction-markets/ |
| Crypto.com | crypto.com |
| PredictIt | predictit.org |
| ForecastEx (IBKR) | forecastex.com |
| Webull Prediction Markets | webull.com |
| Manifold | manifold.markets |
| Iowa Electronic Markets (IEM) | iemweb.biz.uiowa.edu |
Interesting facts about Hawaii Betting
Looking to start betting in Hawaii?
You’re entering one of the most restrictive gambling environments in the country. Traditional options like sports betting, casinos, and daily fantasy contests remain completely off-limits - and lawmakers show no real urgency to change that.
That said, there are still a few great betting alternatives available to Aloha State players. Before diving in, it’s worth understanding exactly where Hawaii draws the line. Here’s what you need to know about how gambling operates - and doesn’t operate - across the islands.
While sports betting and online casinos remain completely illegal in Hawaii, there are still a few legitimate ways for residents to play - and even win real money - without breaking the state’s strict gambling laws:
- Social Sportsbooks mimic the look and feel of real sportsbooks, letting you make picks with virtual currencies that can be redeemed for cash prizes. They’re fully legal under U.S. sweepstakes law and accessible to Hawaii residents.
- Social Casinos let you enjoy slots, blackjack, roulette, and other classic games using virtual coins instead of cash. They’re designed for entertainment, but many also offer prize draws that give players a chance to win real rewards.
- Prediction Markets allow you to legally speculate on real-world events - from politics and economics to sports and pop culture - through federally regulated platforms.
These alternatives operate fully within legal boundaries and are overseen by state and federal regulators, giving Hawaiians safe, compliant ways to enjoy betting-style experiences despite the state’s broad gambling ban.
Hawaii sits in an ultra-strict club with just one other state: Utah. No lottery, no casinos, no sportsbooks, no DFS - not even charity bingo gets a pass. Most states at least allow something; Hawaii’s default setting on gambling is still a hard “no.”
For bettors, that’s why social casinos, sweepstakes sportsbooks, and prediction markets feel like such a big deal here - they’re the first real cracks in a wall that’s been solid for decades.
Every few years, you’ll see headlines about a new Hawaii bill to legalize a lottery, create a small gambling district, or license online betting. And every time, the result is the same: hearings, noise, then a quiet death in committee.
For players, that means you shouldn’t pin your hopes on a sudden, sweeping legalization. If Hawaii ever moves, it’ll probably start small - and only after a long, drawn-out political fight.
Sweepstakes sportsbooks and casinos have quickly become the go-to option for Hawaiians looking to play legally. With real-money gambling completely banned in the state, platforms like Legendz, ProphetX, and Rebet offer a lawful alternative that still delivers the thrill of betting.
These sites operate under U.S. sweepstakes law, allowing players to use virtual currencies such as Gold Coins for entertainment while Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for real cash prizes. They recreate the feel of traditional sportsbooks and casinos - from slots and blackjack to sports picks - without violating Hawaii’s strict gambling laws.
It’s a fully compliant system that keeps gameplay fun, transparent, and accessible for residents who want a safe, legal way to enjoy betting-style entertainment in the Aloha State.
Prediction markets are emerging as one of the few truly legal ways for Hawaiians to take part in real-money wagering.
Platforms like Kalshi let users trade on real-world outcomes - from elections and economic trends to entertainment and sports - all under the oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Because these markets are federally regulated rather than governed by state gambling laws, they’re fully accessible to residents of Hawaii.
The concept is simple: you’re not betting against a house - you’re speculating on whether something will happen, yes or no. That clarity, combined with strong federal regulation, has made prediction markets one of the safest and most innovative ways for Hawaiians to legally put a little skin in the game.
Where some states backed down on daily fantasy sports after initial pushback, Hawaii went the other direction: the Attorney General labeled DFS as illegal gambling, and the big platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel simply left. There hasn’t been a serious, sustained push to bring them back under a new legal framework.
That hard line on something as mainstream as DFS is a pretty good indicator of how resistant the state still is to full-on sports betting or casinos.
What Does Our Expert Think?
Hawaii is home to some of the lushest landscapes in the U.S., but for decades, it’s been a gambling desert.
The Aloha state is one of only two states in America with a total ban on every form of wagering, leaving bettors with no options other than to hop a plane to Vegas - humorously dubbed "the ninth island".
Thanks to new developments, this is all finally starting to change. While the Aloha State still prohibits traditional gambling, new federally and legally compliant platforms have opened the door to safe, legitimate alternatives.
Social casinos and sweepstakes sportsbooks let residents play for real prizes without violating state law, and prediction markets like Kalshi now give Hawaiians a fully legal way to speculate on real-world outcomes - from sports and politics to pop culture.
It’s a small but meaningful shift. For the first time, Hawaii bettors have access to real-money gaming options that are both legal and regulated. The state itself may not be changing its stance anytime soon, but players no longer have to sit entirely on the sidelines. In a place that once outlawed even friendly bingo, that’s real progress.
