The state of Hawaii is one of five states that does not have a state lottery. Most forms of gambling are against the law in Hawaii and any attempts to change the law have failed. Hawaiians that engage in gambling can be charged with a misdemeanor.
That doesn’t mean that Hawaiians are anti-gambling, as Las Vegas is often referred to as “The Ninth Island” because of how many Hawaiians not only call the city home, but because of the extreme flow of tourism to the city.
Will Hawaii Ever Have A State Lottery?
Lawmakers have attempted to garner support for proposals that would soften the state’s gambling restrictions as a means of funding education or other public initiatives, but they have never really gotten off the ground.
While Hawaii benefits greatly from tourism in certain spots, there are still a lot of poorer people that reside on one of the islands and many lawmakers have taken up stances that protect their constituents from spending money on gambling with the hopes of getting out of a difficult situation.
So, no, Hawaii will never have a state lottery unless something dramatically changes with the leadership and finances of the state.
Hawaii Lottery Options
As a chain of islands, Hawaiians wishing to play the lottery mostly have to rely on friends and family living on the mainland in a state that offers it. As mentioned, many Hawaiians use the Las Vegas casinos to get their gambling fix. Nevada also does not have a lottery.
Hawaii Lottery Frequently Asked Questions
Hawaii is one of five states without a lottery. Alabama, Alaska, Nevada, and Utah are the others.
The Hawaii state constitution considers gambling to be a misdemeanor offense and proposals to change the law have never garnered much political or public support.