Gambling in Hawaii?

[memorylane]

I dont think i was aware of lottery in HI.......or did i just not notice due to being so thrilled at being back after so many many years? Where i live now may finally be about to get one and i would love love love to win but why why why o freakin why cant they split the money differently????? I know one person bought the ticket and chose the numbers but who on gods green earth NEEDS 204 million for instance?? Why not have the one person that bought the ticket get a percentage and then they have to randomly pick out of a phone book maybe, etc. etc.. In other words instead of 204 mil to one person, give 1 mil to 204 peeps? What are others' take on this?

[helen]

We have a lottery? Since when?

[1stwahine]

It's illegal in Hawai'i.

Eh, I won 600 Euro's last year. Or was it sometime this year? Found out it was a SCAM!

[Miulang]

You guys need to have a State lottery instead of raising your GET. That way, only the people who play the lottery would pay. The money we get from the lottery goes into the State general fund, and we have at least 5 different lottery games going at the same time every week.

The bad thing is I can never win because I never play! The Powerball one (where I think there are like 10 or 12 states involved) is the most profitable one...multiple millions of dollars to the winner(s) every week. Better than betting on a cockfighting match.

Miulang

[jdub]

i've long believed that we should have a lottery AND ship-board gambling here, and put the money toward education and health care...i once won 85 bucks on a scratcher in El Cerrito, CA...i was stoked!

[Hellbent]

isnt the question abuot lottery about the people who spend their money on lotto tickets that they should be spending on more important things? on the other hand i buy stupid things anyway, so whats the difference?

[Hellbent]

I admit I am a bit naive about politics so lets open a discussion about gambling in hawaii.
Alot of my friends go to Vegas alot. Its cheaper to go to Vegas then to go to the neighbor islands. I do not have the luck, so I am not for gambling per se.
I've been thinking for years now "Why not let the casinos open on another island?" If (when?) the Hawaiians get Kaholawe back, can they go the Indian casino route, or is that a bad thing?

It would increase tourism and keep Hawaii dollars in Hawaii, make use of this superferry, etc., but would that open a pandora's box of organized crime?
I do not gamble very much, I hear about the gambling addicts that have ruined their lives thru gambling, which would be another detractor.

------

Also, Ive been wondering why a major theme park like Disney never opened in Hawaii? Does anyone know the answer to this question? Do they perceive that there is too much competition with the likes of beaches and other entertainment options? Would it cost too much to build a theme park here?

[Palolo Joe]

You guys need to have a State lottery instead of raising your GET.

Thanks again for telling "us guys" what to do. Stay on the other side of the ocean and worry about your own kuleana.

[pzarquon]

Earmarking lottery revenues for education and other noble purposes is common. But you can ask the states where this "rule" is in place whether things got any better for their schools or hospitals or roads or whatever. Often, any dollar added to those budgets by the lottery are subtracted from allocations from elsewhere, meaning few real improvements but quite a few more problems (related to gambling addiction).

Also, a state lottery would probably never have a windfall anywhere near 204 million. You get those sums in multi-state lotteries or at least in states with much larger populations. I suspect jackpots would rarely break eight figures, and I am certain an inordinate percentage of Hawaii residents would participate compared to other communities. Gambling, however illegal, is immensely popular here.

You can always go to Vegas to get your fix, and a huge number of island residents do. But be sure you're physically in the jurisdiction where gambling takes place. There are occasionally sad stories of folks living here who make big wins in out-of-state gambling online or in some other way, but get nabbed when they try to collect.

[craigwatanabe]

Thanks again for telling "us guys" what to do. Stay on the other side of the ocean and worry about your own kuleana.

Now come on Palolo Joe we don't want to start sounding like Kimo right? Since I hear Maddie packs a mean south paw.

But yeah we could use a lottery and keep our expendable cash in the islands instead of funding Nevada.

I wouldn't legalize gambling to a wholesale point though, just a simple state lottery to help fund education. You buy a ticket when you file your state tax by having it deducted from your returns or from your tax payment.

[dick]

Totally agree. It's long overdue for this state to start a lottery/scratch-and-sniff card system here. It's also incredibly naive, and frankly a bit idiotic, to think that since there isn't a legalized gambling system here in Hawaii, gambling doesn't exist. The state may as well make money off of something a lot of Hawaii residents do anyway.

Hey, they tax the crap out of cigarettes. May as well make them illegal across the board since cigarettes are so evil, not unlike the scourge of gambling.

[craigwatanabe]

To make the lottery more inviting make the scratch and sniff cards smell like pakalolo

And Dick is right...gambling is everywhere in Hawaii from the 6/5 papers seen all around town during football season to the cock fighting in Kalihi. One thing about legalizing gambling is whenever the government gets involved in the private business sector it always has a tendancy to kill it thru regulations.

So if you want to get rid of prostitution, drugs and gambling, have the State of Hawaii regulate it to death

[timkona]

We already got gambling in Hawaii.

I am in two different poker clubs. I know where a cockfight is just about every weekend. Football cards are easy to find at the "Civic Clubs" or just about any sports bar. Gambling is very popular in Hawaii.

The arguments against gambling are mostly rooted in the "social ills" that it brings. Those arguments are as weak as the addicts that cause them. The monetary gain to Hawaii from gambling revenues would be enormous.

Maybe Hawaiians could own the casinos. Just like in the mainland.

[WindwardOahuRN]

Also, a state lottery would probably never have a windfall anywhere near 204 million. You get those sums in multi-state lotteries or at least in states with much larger populations. I suspect jackpots would rarely break eight figures, and I am certain an inordinate percentage of Hawaii residents would participate compared to other communities. Gambling, however illegal, is immensely popular here.

We do have that ever-revolving tourist population, though, that provides the potential for kicking up the jackpot immensely, I would think.

[Debwhosmiles]

Earmarking lottery revenues for education and other noble purposes is common. But you can ask the states where this "rule" is in place whether things got any better for their schools or hospitals or roads or whatever. Often, any dollar added to those budgets by the lottery are subtracted from allocations from elsewhere, meaning few real improvements but quite a few more problems (related to gambling addiction).

Just returned from a book run to TTU (Tn Tech University) with my youngest son. We moved him into the dorm on Sunday, he drove the 115 mi. home after orientation on Tuesday and will return Sunday to begin classes Monday. This is all possible because TN started a lottery 2 years ago with the funds going to education. My son qualified for a Lottery Education Scholarship (appropriately called the Hope Scholarship) with a 24 (min.) on the SAT and a 3.2 (min.) GPA. All recent high school graduates with those qualifications can receive a scholarship. The lottery funds have helped many many students who could not have gone to college otherwise. I haven't seen any of the downside of having a lottery as yet. It seems that many people were already playing lotteries in neighboring states so there wasn't much room for change... things were as they are except the funds went to other coffers. The lottery is working fine here and almost didn't come about because of Bible Belt opposition, which remains.

[Hellbent]

oh, everyone gambles. i play some cards for fun with friends, but i meant legalized gambling.

[Leo Lakio]

oh, everyone gambles.

Especially if you gotta drive H-1.

[Hellbent]

Especially if you gotta drive H-1.

i'd consider eating at some local restaurants of questionable cleanliness more of a gamble. eating poki from <name of supermarket> is sometimes risky.

[Kahalu'u_Chrome]

i'd consider eating at some local restaurants of questionable cleanliness more of a gamble. eating poki from <name of supermarket> is sometimes risky.

Working in various kitchens for the past 25 or so years, I know for a fact that you risk quite a bit everytime you eat out
And cleanliness or rating of the restaurant has absolutly nothing to do with it.....it can happen at some of the finest places.
You just have NO idea!

Like the movie said, " Don't %&#* with the people preparing your food!"

Hellbent, I feel ya, as I am somewhat naive when it come to politics as well....

Gambling is such a large part of most peoples lives in Hawaii. I just wonder if gambling is legalized, will the same people raking in the cash now,be the same ones raking in the cash when its legal? If so, I fail to see the benefit....

[Kahalu'u_Chrome]

To make the lottery more inviting make the scratch and sniff cards smell like pakalolo

You know, a person could get to really like you

[admin]

I've merged two similar threads on gambling and a state lottery. Carry on!

[lavagal]

You guys need to have a State lottery instead of raising your GET. ...

Miulang

The number one obstacle to passing legislation in Hawaii that legalizes gambling is the ninth island: LAS VEGAS. It's got an extremely slick lobbying force.

[jdub]

The number one obstacle to passing legislation in Hawaii that legalizes gambling is the ninth island: LAS VEGAS. It's got an extremely slick lobbying force.

i've been told that another major obstacle to legalized gambling in Hawai'i is the Mormon Church...fo' real?

[Miulang]

The number one obstacle to passing legislation in Hawaii that legalizes gambling is the ninth island: LAS VEGAS. It's got an extremely slick lobbying force.

No, the main obstacle is the US government and the revised Akaka Bill. If Hawai'i was a sovereign nation, it could do whatever it wanted to raise money. Gov. Lingle is one of the main culprits who helped to water down the Akaka Bill to the point where it is, frankly, pretty worthless.

Too bad Hawai'i doesn't have a referendum process where the voters of the State could decide whether or not to legalize lotteries. There aren't too many other states now that don't have at least lotteries to help raise money for the state. I don't necessarily think you need to have casinos (although they do bring in a sizeable chunk of money to the State too, which receives a percentage of the proceeds) but I really don't see much harm to having scratch tickets available.

Miulang

[lavagal]

No, the main obstacle is the US government and the revised Akaka Bill. If Hawai'i was a sovereign nation, it could do whatever it wanted to raise money. Gov. Lingle is one of the main culprits who helped to water down the Akaka Bill to the point where it is, frankly, pretty worthless.

Too bad Hawai'i doesn't have a referendum process where the voters of the State could decide whether or not to legalize lotteries. There aren't too many other states now that don't have at least lotteries to help raise money for the state. I don't necessarily think you need to have casinos (although they do bring in a sizeable chunk of money to the State too, which receives a percentage of the proceeds) but I really don't see much harm to having scratch tickets available.

Miulang

Let me add one more element, Miulang. Notice which states don't have gambling? Utah and Hawaii. Both states have well establsiehd Mormon communities. I don't know how many Utah residents drive to Vegas, though.

Can't address the sovereignty issue with you.

Letting Hawaii voters decide....hmmmm, what a concept.