H.B. 2765 - Sports Wagering

• Authorizes sports wagering in Hawaii under regulation by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism through licensed operators offering mobile applications and digital platforms.

• Establishes two license types: sports wagering operator licenses (to conduct sports wagering) and sports wagering supplier licenses (to provide equipment and services), with three-year terms and temporary license options.

• Requires sports wagering operators to be qualified gaming entities operating in at least three other U.S. jurisdictions and imposes duties including monitoring systems for suspicious activity, record-keeping, and reporting to the department.

• Levies a tax on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts and supplier gross receipts, with revenues deposited into a sports wagering special fund administered by the department of law enforcement for gambling enforcement and mitigation programs.

• Specifies that licensed sports wagering does not constitute gambling under state law and establishes criminal penalties up to $100,000 and five years imprisonment for unlicensed sports wagering operations.