Hawaii Draws Line on Sweeps: Incoming Bill Sparks Industry Panic
The bill’s vague language on “sweepstakes gambling machine” has ruffled some industry features- could it potentially lead to strict rules or even a ban?
Hawaii joins a slew of states pushing for bills that redefine online and offline games and related machines. Senate Bill 3281, filed on January 29th, 2026, targets “fish games” or ”fishing games”, along with sweepstakes gambling machines and other devices, which have become popular in the state. The bill’s Section 1 argues that these gaming machines operate outside a lawful gaming framework and put players at risk.
No hearings, debates, or votes have been officially scheduled, but its filing has caused a stir in the Aloha state, particularly among sweepstakes casino players and other stakeholders.
Here’s What We Know About Hawaii’s SB 3281
Sponsored by Senators Donovan Cruz, Stanley Chang, Troy Hashimoto, and Chris Lee, SB 3281 aims to institutionalize the state’s gambling enforcement. Specifically, the bill aims to:
- Establish criminal offense on individuals promoting illegal electronic gambling devices
- Allow civil penalties and regulatory actions on premises where these illegal gambling machines are used
The bill also expands the state’s definition of “illegal electronic gambling devices” to cover machines that award credits, points, and prizes based on chance or skill-plus-chance.
At its current form, the bill targets physical gaming machines found in bars and trucks, and also imposes potential penalties on property owners.
Could the New Bill Impact Sweepstakes Casino Games?
The bill’s vague language has put the sweepstakes casino industry, particularly its dual-currency model, into the spotlight. According to observers, this language could allow the state’s Attorney General to interpret the popular sweepstakes online casinos as “illegal” and operate beyond the regulatory framework, even though the bill refers to machines in physical locations.
Currently, a few popular sweepstakes casinos have already restricted players’ access in the state. Although the bill is in its early stages, it could push some operators to re-evaluate their business model or impose stricter geo-blocks for their websites.
Sweepstakes casino operators in Hawaii haven’t released an official statement as of this writing.
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Stakester
Stakester connects sweepstakes players who want to put their hard-earned skills to the ultimate test – by playing their favorite games for money and prizes.