Deja vu as internet gambling bill introduced in Hawaii
News on 2 Feb 2013
News on 2 Feb 2013
Hawaii State Senators Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Malama Solomon and Gilbert Kahele have resurrected the online gambling debate with the introduction of SB768 in the Hawaii State Legislature, almost a year to the day that a similar measure was introduced and subsequently failed over the course of last year.
The bill which passed its first reading on January 22 seeks to authorise and implement a secure, responsible, and legal system for internet gambling and proposes the establishment of the Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation (HIGLC) towards that end.
The HIGLC is proposed to be a public corporation and would be deemed to be an instrumentality of the State but not considered a State Agency.
Internet wagering and gaming would be conducted with the assistance of a private gaming operator who would provide a complete turnkey solution that encompasses internet wagering on games of chance and games of skill, including lottery, poker, and casino games, but specifically excludes internet wagering on any sporting event or sporting contest. A provision for intrastate wagering is also outlined.
The selected private gaming operator would be reimbursed through an undetermined percentage of the revenues of the HIGLC.
SB768 is seemingly a resubmission of last years House Bill 2422 which was submitted to the Hawaii Legislature in February 2012 by gambling proponent and Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeritus Joseph Souki, Rep. Faye Hanohano and Rep Angus McKelvey.
Readers will also recall an online poker bill SB755, introduced to the Hawaii Legislature back in April 2011 that made remarkably fast progress through the various committees only to be stopped by a legislative deadline which effectively rendered it dead for the remainder of the year .
