The Year Is Looking Like a Lucky Time for Hawaiians Who Are Visiting Las Vegas

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

• Twitter
• Email

More About John Isaac

Last updated: February 20, 2023

This year is looking like a very fortunate time for Hawaiians who are visiting Las Vegas. In recent weeks, several people have won big as the travel to Sin City from Hawaii continues to be popular. On January 22, at the California Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, also known as The Cal, a player from Hawaii whose name is not mentioned won more than $32,000 on the Abundant Fortune Ba Fang Jin Bao slot machine.

Additionally, on New Year’s Day, a player going by the name of “Lorraine” won above $11,000 playing a Reel Hot slot machine. He won this also at The Cal.

In January, Hawaiians also hit the following jackpots in Vegas:

• While playing a Turtle Kingdom slot machine on Main Street, “Orlando” won above $10,000.
• While playing the Little Shop of Horrors slot machine, a guest won above $12,000.
• Another guest won above $12,000 while he was playing a 7 United Stars slot machine.

Hawaiians Continue to Enjoy Visiting Las Vegas

The high number of recent Hawaiian wins could be attributed to the popularity of Hawaii-to-Vegas travel. Vegas is occasionally referred to as the “ninth island.” Hawaii is one of only two states that does not allow any kind of legalized gambling, including a lottery. The only other state is Utah. Hawaii residents frequently travel to the Strip due to the proximity of Hawaii to Vegas (a six-hour flight away). The fares are also relatively inexpensive.

According to figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority, around 300K passengers traveled from Hawaii to Las Vegas each of the previous five years. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, the total was 335,488.

Ads and Gambling Prohibition

Not all Hawaiians find the allure of Vegas appealing. A Hawaiian legislator is attempting to ban casinos in Nevada from running adverts in the state. Senator Stanley Chang (D), the one who proposed Senate Bill 935, says that fines should be paid by anyone who violates the law.

Legalizing sports betting or gambling on the islands is not likely to happen anytime soon. The most recent bill to make sports betting legal in the state failed some days ago. According to the estimates of analysts, a legal sports betting market may generate about $7 million annually. Rep. Daniel Holt (D), the committee chair, was the one who suggested that the bill be killed

Revenue Lost to Illegal Gambling

Some analytics shows that the absence of legal sports betting in Hawaii may indicate that illegal sports betting is widespread. Sports Betting Alliance Counsel Pat Gibbs recently told the House Economic Development Committee that 276,000 people bet a combined total of six-hundred and seventy million dollars ($670M) in illegal sports wagers yearly in Hawaii, using bookmakers or offshore sites on their computers and phones.

This is according to a study by Ernst & Young. However, other legislators, such as Josh Green (D), the Governor of Hawaii, believe that legalizing gambling will lead to an increase in the number of people who are affected by it.