Illegal gambling rooms remain a significant issue in Hawaii, but Governor Josh Green (D) and legislators intend to address this problem through new legislation.
This week, Green signed Senate Bill 2197, which increases penalties for landlords who rent properties to illegal gambling operators. Introduced by Senate President Ron Kouchi (Democrat - Kauai) in January, the bill amends the definition of "gambling activities" and removes previous language that protected landlords from certain charges related to their tenants' actions.
Under the old law, landlords could only be prosecuted for promoting gambling activities if they "failed to take steps to prevent" illegal gambling on their property. The new law requires property owners to ensure that their tenants do not engage in illegal activities.
Hawaii and Utah have the strictest gambling regulations in the United States and are the only two states that prohibit commercial or tribal casinos, pool betting, lotteries, online gaming, or sports betting. Despite this, Hawaii's gambling addiction rates remain high compared to the national average.
Hawaii is a major market for Las Vegas casinos. Those who cannot afford the trip to southern Nevada often opt for underground gambling, where illegal slot machines and table games are common.
The new law aims to impose stricter penalties on landlords who ignore illegal activities on their properties, reducing problems for Hawaii's law enforcement agencies.
