THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 121 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH A TOURISM AND GAMING WORKING GROUP.
THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 121
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
121
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH A TOURISM AND GAMING WORKING GROUP.
WHEREAS, under existing law, gaming, also known as gambling, is largely prohibited within the State; and WHEREAS, legislation to legalize gaming has been introduced in past legislative sessions; and WHEREAS, gaming activities operated within a comprehensive policy framework may lead to economic growth and provide a significant source of tax revenue; and WHEREAS, the Legislature needs useful information, evaluated and prepared by stakeholders, to properly consider such a framework; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to establish a Tourism and Gaming Working Group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to: (1) Review gaming legislation that has been considered by the Legislature to determine if any proposal has the potential to be implemented in the State; (2) Develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework that would serve as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, capital investment, and a significant source of tax revenue for the State; (3) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District; and (4) Examine how gaming activities may support the work conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals are requested to serve as members of the working group: (1) The Chairs of the Standing Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives under whose purview fall matters of economic development, who are also requested to serve as co‑chairpersons of the working group; (2) The President of the Senate, or the President's designee; (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee; (4) A representative from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; (5) A representative from the Department of Law Enforcement; (6) A representative from the Department of Taxation; (7) One individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of labor, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (8) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (9) One individual having experience in social services and behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (10) One individual possessing academic and research expertise in global tourism, sports, and entertainment industries, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (11) One individual from Boyd Gaming Corporation, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (12) One individual from DraftKings, Inc., to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (13) One individual from BetMGM, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; and (14) Other interested parties having relevant experience and expertise, as invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit to the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to provide necessary administrative support to the working group in carrying out its duties, including the preparation of the report to the Legislature; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to dissolve the Tourism and Gaming Working Group on June 30, 2028; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Law Enforcement; Director of Taxation; President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming Corporation; Chief Executive Officer of DraftKings, Inc.; and Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Tourism and Gaming Working Group; Gambling; Legislative Report
WHEREAS, under existing law, gaming, also known as gambling, is largely prohibited within the State; and
WHEREAS, legislation to legalize gaming has been introduced in past legislative sessions; and
WHEREAS, gaming activities operated within a comprehensive policy framework may lead to economic growth and provide a significant source of tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature needs useful information, evaluated and prepared by stakeholders, to properly consider such a framework; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to establish a Tourism and Gaming Working Group; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:
(1) Review gaming legislation that has been considered by the Legislature to determine if any proposal has the potential to be implemented in the State;
(2) Develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework that would serve as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, capital investment, and a significant source of tax revenue for the State;
(3) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District; and
(4) Examine how gaming activities may support the work conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals are requested to serve as members of the working group:
(1) The Chairs of the Standing Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives under whose purview fall matters of economic development, who are also requested to serve as co‑chairpersons of the working group;
(2) The President of the Senate, or the President's designee;
(3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee;
(4) A representative from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;
(5) A representative from the Department of Law Enforcement;
(6) A representative from the Department of Taxation;
(7) One individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of labor, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(8) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(9) One individual having experience in social services and behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(10) One individual possessing academic and research expertise in global tourism, sports, and entertainment industries, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(11) One individual from Boyd Gaming Corporation, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(12) One individual from DraftKings, Inc., to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(13) One individual from BetMGM, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; and
(14) Other interested parties having relevant experience and expertise, as invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit to the Legislature a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to provide necessary administrative support to the working group in carrying out its duties, including the preparation of the report to the Legislature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to dissolve the Tourism and Gaming Working Group on June 30, 2028; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Law Enforcement; Director of Taxation; President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming Corporation; Chief Executive Officer of DraftKings, Inc.; and Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM.
OFFERED BY: _____________________________
OFFERED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Tourism and Gaming Working Group; Gambling; Legislative Report