Hawaii Lawmakers Weigh Casino Expansion for Tourism Boost

Hawaii lawmakers and business leaders are evaluating whether to legalize gambling as a strategy to attract visitor spending. The proposal emerged during a joint summit hosted by the Hawaii and Las Vegas Chambers of Commerce in Waikiki in mid-October. Participants discussed how to address tourism challenges and drive economic development on the islands.

Bo Bernhard, an economist from the University of Nevada, represented the Las Vegas delegation at the event. He suggested that Hawaii could learn from Singapore's approach to casino resorts. Bernhard noted that Singapore had high levels of gambling activity without a strong social safety net initially. He said the country insisted early on prevention, education, and treatment programs. He also highlighted employee training designed to identify and intervene with patrons showing signs of gambling problems.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai, vice chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, attended the summit and expressed support for the measure. Wakai told Hawaii Public Radio that he is a big supporter of gambling. He described casinos as a fantastic evening activity for tourists. He argued that legalized gambling would also appeal to local residents.

Wakai pointed to Japanese tourists as a key demographic for the new industry. He said this group already has an appetite for casino games due to their familiarity with pachinko parlors. He believes introducing casinos to Hawaii would come with specific safety nets to prevent addictive behaviors. Wakai stated that if the state passed licensing and taxation laws, a certain percentage of that revenue would be allocated to address gambling issues already present in the state.

The discussion comes as tourism talk dominates local economic conversations. Lawmakers are looking for new ways to bring visitor dollars into the economy. The summit provided a forum for sharing perspectives from both the host state and a major global gambling hub. No bill has yet been introduced to the legislature following the mid-October meeting.

Hawaii Public Radio aired the story on its program The Conversation on October 29, 2026. The segment invited listeners to share their opinions on the issue. Viewers and listeners could call a talkback line or send an email to express support or opposition to legalized gambling in the state.