A national gambling researcher has raised concerns that Hawaii lacks the evidence needed to make informed decisions about legalizing gambling. Dr. Raymond Cho, Ph.D., project coordinator at the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies in New Jersey, argued that policymakers should first establish a clearer understanding of gambling-related risks before moving forward with legalization efforts.
He emphasized that current knowledge gaps leave uncertainty around the state’s readiness. “Right now, we don’t know how vulnerable or prepared Hawaii actually is when it comes to gambling harms,” Cho said. “Even outside of gambling, Hawaii already faces behavioral health and access and workforce challenges, especially in rural and neighbor island communities.”
Hawaii remains one of only two US states, alongside Utah, where all forms of gambling are still prohibited.
Lessons From US Sports Betting Rollout After 2018 Ruling
The national expansion of sports betting following a 2018 Supreme Court decision, which allowed individual states to determine its legality, has provided examples of how regulation can evolve after rollout. Cho noted that several states have had to respond to unforeseen challenges after introducing legal betting markets.
He pointed to adjustments made in multiple jurisdictions, including Tennessee’s revisions to operator performance assumptions and actions in Ohio and Massachusetts addressing advertising language and consumer protections around terms such as “free” or “risk-free” bets.
“Legalization and thoughtful design are not always the same thing,” Cho said.
He also suggested that Hawaii’s geographic and cultural exposure to influences from both East and West should not automatically be interpreted as increased vulnerability. Instead, he described it as a factor that could shape public awareness. “In some ways, it may also make Hawaii more aware, more realistic, and more resilient around these conversations,” Cho said.
Cultural Inclusion And Tourism-Focused Considerations
Cho stressed that any policy discussion would need to include Native Hawaiian voices in a meaningful way, warning that exclusion could shape how harms are distributed in the future. “The less they are meaningfully included in this process, the more likely the risks will be concentrated there in the future,” Cho said.
He also noted that Hawaii’s cultural and demographic diversity should be reflected in how lawmakers evaluate potential legalization. Looking ahead, he predicted that if gambling were eventually adopted, the state could become a reference point for others. “I’m telling you, if this happens, it’s going to become, ‘How do we do the Hawaii model,’ not, ‘What model did Hawaii copy?’” said Cho.
Beyond cultural considerations, Cho said policymakers would need to determine whether tourism or local demand would form the primary market. He suggested that any future system would likely connect more closely with physical venues tied to visitor activity. “I think ideally you wanna leverage the tourism and that’s going to be more brick and mortar and less online,” he said.
He also raised questions about whether Hawaii would have sufficient support systems in place, including access to mental health care for individuals who develop gambling-related problems. According to Cho, this would include evaluating the availability of trained treatment providers, as well as financial and credit counseling services, particularly given the state’s high cost of living.
Source:
“Rutgers: Hawaii is not ready to legalize gambling due to insufficient information”, hawaiinewsnow.com, May 22, 2026
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