Hawaii Online Casinos – An Inside Look At The Aloha State’s Casino Gambling Industry
Hawaii is one of just two US states where all forms of organized gambling – commercial or tribal – are barred by law. (The other such state is Utah.) So despite being a major tourist destination that would surely benefit from local gambling, there are no casinos in Hawaii. Still, if you want to bet real money at Hawaii online casinos, you can! The best HI gambling sites are all located outside US borders, allowing residents of legal gambling age to freely join.
But these online Hawaii casino venues aren’t just great because they’re your only real option for real-money play – they’re also great because they’re the best venues in the entire online gambling industry. These sites are the top choices for millions of players all across the USA, and they’ve all been in business for years. Say “Aloha” to domestic HI gambling bans, and say “Aloha” to HI online casinos!
★ Top Rated Online Casino For Hawaii Players In 2024
Bovada Casino – The Online Gambling Paradise Of The Pacific
Bovada LV was launched in 2011, but the site’s management team has been in the online casino industry since the mid-1990s. As such, it’s no surprise that most casino players view the venue as the best all-in-one gambling site in the islands.
For real-money online casino gambling, online sports betting, and online poker in Hawaii, Bovada should be your first choice every time. HI residents who join today can score a Bovada signup bonus of up to $3000!
- Legally operates out of Costa Rica
- All HI gamblers accepted at 18+
- 250+ slots, table games + live-dealer games
- Supports Bitcoin + altcoins (BCH, LTC, ETH)
- Visa, Mastercard, AmEx accepted
- 100% mobile-optimized for iPhone, iPad, Android
- 1 account for Casino, Sports, Poker, Horses
Is Online Gambling Legal In Hawaii?
When it comes to online gambling, Hawaii law forbids all forms offered by domestic operators. However, Hawaii gambling laws say nothing whatsoever about residents and visitors playing online casino games at sites headquartered outside of HI and US jurisdiction.
As such, provided the online casino you choose operates internationally, you’re good to go. (The law is similar for Hawaii casino cruises, which can only open their casinos once in international waters).
All the sites featured here accept HI residents (mostly at 18+, though some are 21+ per their terms of service), and they each boast hundreds of legal online Hawaii slots, blackjack games, roulette games, and more.
Are There Legal HI Online Casinos That Are Safe To Play At?
Gambling in Hawaii might be locally limited to private “social” games – there’s not even a Hawaii Lottery! – but even though there aren’t any casinos in the state, there are safe, reputable gaming options available online.
Of course, with literally thousands of allegedly legit online casinos on the Internet, it can be no small feat to find an actual reputable operator that isn’t just running a scam. Fortunately, we’ve been hanging ten on the web and playing with Internet gambling sites for over two decades, so we’ve been able to narrow down the market to only the most trustworthy destinations.
All the HI gambling sites we recommend here are established, legit online casino venues that have been taking Aloha State residents for years, and they adhere to all recognized gaming industry best practices:
Hawaii Mobile Casinos
It’s probably the understatement of the year, but there’s a lot to do in the islands, whether you’re a resident or visitor to the state. As such, it’s not enough for online HI casinos to offer their games via desktop or laptop computer. In order for gamblers to lei it all on the line anytime, mobile casino betting is the thing.
And luckily, that’s exactly what the top Hawaii casinos offer. When it comes to online gambling, Hawaii residents can play all their favorite games – and, at many sites, even play poker, bet sports, and bet on the ponies – right through their smartphones and tablets.
There are no special iPhone casino apps or Android casino apps to download, either, as the sites featured here offer all their games and betting markets through standard mobile web browsers. With dynamic, responsive design, your mobile device turns wherever you are into a bona fide Hawaii casino resort.
(Of course, if you’re hiking the cauldron of Kilauea, you might want to pay attention to your surroundings instead of all those flashing lights on your phone…)
Online Casino Games In Hawaii
Hawaii is famously anti-gambling, but – if you know where to look – you’ll find that there are plenty of real-money slot machines in Hawaii, real-money blackjack tables in Hawaii, and just about every other Vegas-style gambling amusement you can think of.
The best-reviewed online gambling sites accepting HI residents all offer a similar selection of games, with an emphasis on the classics you expect:
- Online Slots (3-Reel, 5-Reel, 3D, iSlots, Progressive Jackpot Slots)
- Online Blackjack/21 (Single-Deck, Multi-Deck)
- Online Roulette (American Roulette + European Roulette)
- Online Baccarat + Super 6/Mini-Bac (aka Punto 2000)
- Online Video Poker Games
- Online Keno + Craps + Bingo
- Online Lotto + Raffles + Scratchers
- Online Live-Dealer Casino Tables
Hawaii Online Live-Dealer Casino Games
If all the hundreds of online gambling games in the RNG categories listed above still aren’t “real enough” for you, you’ll be glad to know that you can get the real deal at the very same HI casino sites.
The live casino portions of these venues feature live streaming video and audio, allowing you to watch every shuffle and deal and spin of the wheel. You can even chat with your dealer and other players at your table in real-time, and each site’s live-dealer gambling suite is 100% mobile compatible, too.
In general, most sites support these four Hawaii live casino classics, albeit with plenty of different minimum and maximum table stakes:
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Live Dealer Baccarat
- Live Dealer Super 6
Note: Since live online casino dealers/croupiers are actual paid employees of the sites we recommend, you cannot play live casino games for free. Similarly, most sites don’t allow live casino gambling to accrue points toward meeting any active online gambling promo.
Brick-And-Mortar Casinos In Hawaii
Now, you might have heard of the Hawaiian Gardens Casino (or, as it’s also commonly called, the Gardens Casino or the Hawaii Garden Casino). However, this isn’t an actual casino in Hawaii. Instead, this venue is in Hawaiian Gardens, California.
Incidentally, because there are no domestic HI casino venues, plenty of residents take the trip across the Pacific to visit this particular venue. Of course, that's just a stop-off, as most such travelers ultimately make the trek farther east and gamble in Las Vegas. But if you gamble online, you can save a trip – and quite a bit of cash!
Note: There are no Indian casinos in Hawaii, as there are no “Native American” peoples in the islands as such. However, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) – which was established by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 – is seeking to build a “tribal casino” equivalent within its territory. If the DHHL proposal is approved, the proposed Hawaii casino hotel would be built in Kapolei, Oahu.
Gambling Resources For Hawaii Residents
While we’ve covered everything of relevance regarding domestic HI gambling regulations, there’s a lot of (mostly non-applicable) minutiae we left out. To learn more about Hawaii gambling laws in detail, you can check out the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) sections on both gambling and social gambling at the links below:
- HRS § 712-1220 – “Gambling Offenses”
- HRS § 712-1231 – “Social gambling; definition and specific conditions, affirmative defense”
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of gambling addiction, immediate help is available at no cost through the Hawaii chapter of the National Council on Problem Gambling.