Hawaii’s state senate saw the introduction of a new bill that is going to create the first-ever state-owned sweepstakes casino in the United States. The move is going to make a bespoke alteration in the state’s attitude towards gambling, as presently both land-based and online casino gaming and betting is illegal.
SB 1507, introduced by state senate’s president Ron Kouchi, is essentially motivated by leveraging the social, free-play casino model, for the purpose of providing the state with extra funds for social initiatives and promoting it as a tourist destination.
With the creation of the Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the state is going to regulate its own sweepstakes casino and utilize eventual profits for its own ends. The corporation will essentially partner with a social casino operator and make online casino games available to its residents, but also to players in other states where social casinos are legal.
Bill SB 1507 doesn’t provision any changes in the status of sports betting. However, if it follows current trends, social sports predictions may become available on its social casino brand or brands. To emphasize, an upward trend is already underway where US residents can play at venues that double as social casino and betting websites.
One of the notable aims of the bill is to create a tax-exempt gaming platform where players will be able to redeem their sweepstakes prizes for real money. The purchase of Gold Coin packages will provide revenue for the state.
The bill’s article 3 highlights the chief purpose for the creation of the said corporation as “community betterment.” What’s unique and exceptionally innovative on the part of the bill’s creators is that the sweepstakes casino will act as a tool for promoting the state and its character. Namely, the gaming platform will provide “Hawaii-related prizes” to out of state players “for the purpose of attracting tourists and providing free exposure for Hawaii.”
Casino players whose enthusiasm may have been piqued by the news can look forward to “two gaming entertainment events per year.” These events will be exclusively online, as the bill prohibits land-based gaming events – our reading of which means potential poker and slots tournaments with prizes that can be redeemed for cash.
It is very likely that this sweepstakes casino, with an impending Hawaii-themed name and branding, will be added to SweepsKings’ list of trusted social casinos. Not only is the casino going to be state-owned, but it will also feature the main hallmarks of a legit casino: responsible social gaming and games from trusted providers.
The state will commence with the initial soliciting of gaming providers in 180 days from the appointment of the Corporation’s board. In other words, we are expecting to see the first-ever state-owned sweepstakes casino in 2025, a historic development in the social/sweepstakes casino space.
Author: Mike F.
Updated:
