THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 121 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D. 1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONVENE A TOURISM AND GAMING WORKING GROUP.
THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 121
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII H.D. 1
THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
121
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
H.D. 1
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONVENE 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 requires information on the costs and benefits of legalized gambling, including different gambling operations, to evaluate and properly consider gambling for Hawaii; 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 convene a Tourism and Gaming Working Group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to: (1) Research gaming experiences and programs of legalized gambling in other states, including but not limited to revenues generated, costs of administration, preventive education, gambling counseling and treatment, regulation, and enforcement; (2) Review gaming legislation that has been considered by the Legislature and other states to determine if any proposal has the potential to be implemented in the State; (3) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and onboard vessels operated within the exclusive economic zone; (4) Develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework that addresses economic growth, job creation, capital investment, tax revenues, and costs associated with administration, regulation, enforcement, and social programs to educate, counsel, and treat problem gambling; and (5) Examine how gaming activities may support the work conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Tourism Authority; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members: (1) The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees with primary subject matter jurisdiction over economic development, or the chairs' designees, who are 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) The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee; (5) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; (6) The Director of Law Enforcement, or the Director's designee; (7) The Director of Taxation, or the Director's designee; (8) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee; (9) The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee; (10) The Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or the Executive Director's designee; (11) One individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of labor, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (12) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (13) One individual having experience in social services and behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; (14) 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; (15) Three individuals representing gaming corporations, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group; (16) One individual from Aloha Hālawa District Partners LLC, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and (17) Other interested parties having relevant experience and expertise, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature 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; Attorney General; Director of Law Enforcement; Director of Taxation; Director of Health; Director of Human Services; and Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. 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 requires information on the costs and benefits of legalized gambling, including different gambling operations, to evaluate and properly consider gambling for Hawaii; 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 convene a Tourism and Gaming Working Group; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:
(1) Research gaming experiences and programs of legalized gambling in other states, including but not limited to revenues generated, costs of administration, preventive education, gambling counseling and treatment, regulation, and enforcement;
(2) Review gaming legislation that has been considered by the Legislature and other states to determine if any proposal has the potential to be implemented in the State;
(3) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and onboard vessels operated within the exclusive economic zone;
(4) Develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework that addresses economic growth, job creation, capital investment, tax revenues, and costs associated with administration, regulation, enforcement, and social programs to educate, counsel, and treat problem gambling; and
(5) Examine how gaming activities may support the work conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Tourism Authority; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:
(1) The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees with primary subject matter jurisdiction over economic development, or the chairs' designees, who are 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) The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, or the Director's designee;
(5) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;
(6) The Director of Law Enforcement, or the Director's designee;
(7) The Director of Taxation, or the Director's designee;
(8) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;
(9) The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee;
(10) The Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or the Executive Director's designee;
(11) One individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of labor, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(12) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(13) One individual having experience in social services and behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group;
(14) 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;
(15) Three individuals representing gaming corporations, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the working group;
(16) One individual from Aloha Hālawa District Partners LLC, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and
(17) Other interested parties having relevant experience and expertise, to be invited by the co‑chairpersons of the working group; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature 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; Attorney General; Director of Law Enforcement; Director of Taxation; Director of Health; Director of Human Services; and Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.
Report Title:
Tourism and Gaming Working Group; Gambling; Legislative Report