HawaiiCurrently, both online and offline casinos are strictly prohibited in Hawaii. This is probably why residents of this American state have taken to regularly traveling to Las Vegas to gamble.

In fact, this city is usually called the ninth island of the archipelago.

This popularity doesn’t seem to please some. For example, there’s a bill in the Hawaii Senate that would ban land-based casino operators in Nevada from advertising in the state in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.

A text known by the acronym SB 935

The bill that interests us in today’s news is known as SB 935. It was introduced by Democratic Senator Stanley Chang.

If it finally comes into force, all forms of advertising for hotels or other types of establishments hosting a casino or slot machines authorized by the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) will be purely and simply prohibited, both in the media and in the form of printed displays, among other things.

Similarly, the bill also calls for a tax on companies that offer vacation packages to Hawaii residents linked to Nevada casinos.

The operator Boyd Gaming is clearly mentioned in the bill

The bill itself makes no mention of the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority. However, the operator Boyd Gaming is clearly named. It should be noted that the latter has a history of targeting Hawaiian tourists.

Moreover, in October 2020, he had dismissed nearly 300 of his employees in the midst of the international Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, citing the slowdown in tourism from this archipelago.

Boyd Gaming’s 2021 annual report to investors also highlighted the fact that half of the hotel nights at the California, Fremont, and Main Street Station resorts were booked by island residents.

According to the latest official figures, Hawaii residents make approximately 300,000 trips to Las Vegas or other land-based casinos each year. In fact, many residents make multiple trips each year.

All forms of gambling still banned in Hawaii

This attempt to ban Nevada casino advertising in Hawaii is not at all surprising. Indeed, it falls squarely in line with other measures recently introduced in the state.

One example is the currently drafted sports betting legislation, which prohibits major mainland operators such as BetMGM, DraftKings, and FandDuel, among others, from entering the Hawaiian market in order to maximize the economic benefits for local businesses.

It’s worth remembering that, along with Utah, Hawaii is one of only two US states where all forms of gambling are currently prohibited, including the lottery. To date, various attempts to regulate gambling have all failed.