What's the State Besides Utah that Doesn't Allow Gambling?

In a recent QoD, you said that Utah is one of only two states without any form of gambling. What's the other state?

Hawaii.

Hawaii is the most rabid anti-gambling state in the U.S. All forms of gambling -- lotteries, casinos, poker, horse racing, sports betting, even bingo -- are strictly prohibited. Gambling on cruise ships in Hawaiian waters is verboten. Slot machines cannot be displayed, let alone played, and that applies to homeowners and collectors.

Hawaii sees itself as having strong family values and being a primarily family destination. The anti-gambling majority argues that Hawaii offers so many recreational and entertainment opportunities that gambling shouldn't be part of the tropical-paradise vacation. Also, traveling to and around Hawaii is especially expensive, so gambling is another expense about which visitors shouldn't have to worry.

That's not to say that gambling proponents don't try to change the laws, and frequently. In 2011 alone, 16 gambling bills were introduced in the state legislature. Of course, all 16 were shot down.

Perhaps that's why Las Vegas is considered an honorary Hawaiian island: Plenty of Hawaiians like to gamble and they're always a major presence in Sin City, especially downtown.

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Straski Oct-12-2018

Death knell for Vegas if

If Hawaii ever allows gambling it would cut into a huge segment of the gambling dollars for Vegas due to the huge Asian crowd who would just as soon stop in beautiful Hawaii to gamble.

Jackie Oct-12-2018

The real reason

Hawaii is afraid of losing a LOT of revenue.  Tourist would spend more time and money in casinos than on tourist attractions not to mention casinos would cut local hotel rates to fill their hotels.  Hawaii is not family oriented at all, just greedy.  Don't believe me?  Just look at Hawaii's laws to see how many fingers (taxes)they have in every business.

Deke Castleman Oct-12-2018

This in via email

"Slight problem with cruise ship gambling statement. Cruise ships close casinos in port but then open them, and duty free shopping, when at sea, AS LONG as they establish International sailing by going to one foreign port other than nation they sailed from.
Our Princess cruise to Hawaii, from CA, has a casino but also stops in Ensinada Mexico to become International (or possibly in Canada if sailing from San Francisco)
Norwegian Cruise Line choses to operate a ship around the Hawaiian Islands but has no casino because they do not do an International port. They also have a state tax on all purchases (no duty free) and all employees are paying state taxes, etc.
Princess used to run a ship around the islands, with casino, but they took a couple of days to port in one of the South Pacific Island nations before going back to Honolulu."

Kevin Lewis Oct-12-2018

Hawaiians love to gamble

All you have to do is visit the California downtown, any time of the year. The place will be crammed to the rafters. You can really see the preponderance of people of Japanese descent in Hawaii.

I therefore doubt if the absence of gambling in Hawaii is really an expression of will of the people who live there. I think it's more an expression of corporate and government mentality, which there as elsewhere, ignores what the people actually want. When you live in Hawaii, you're isolated, and even more so than it might first appear, since traveling between the islands is difficult and expensive. Oahu, Maui, etc. are beautiful places, but also very small--you can wear them out pretty fast. I think gambling--in whatever form--would be welcomed as an added diversion by locals, who don't necessarily go to the beach every day.

Phil Oct-12-2018

Illegal gambling

Hawaiians love their cock fighting,police always busting them.

Question of the Day - 12 October 2018

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