In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hawaiian state Senator Stanley Chang explained that his recently proposed legislation that would ban gambling ads in the state—particularly those from Las Vegas soliciting Hawaiian tourists—is an effort to promote problem gambling services in his home state, not to discourage travel to Las Vegas altogether.
Chang’s bill, Senate Bill 935, still has a long way to go before it can reach Hawaii Governor Josh Green’s desk, but the senator is happy that at the very least, the conversation about problem gambling is starting to take place.
Chang told the Review-Journal that his state “is one of the few states with no state resources to treat problem gambling and gambling addiction,” and he’d like to see that changed, given that an estimated 20,000-plus Hawaii residents suffer from some form of problem gambling.
He added that his bill, which has since undergone numerous changes since its original introduction, would be “one way to raise funds for this critical societal need.”
The first draft of the bill specifically mentioned banning ads from Nevada casinos—Boyd Gaming, whose downtown Las Vegas properties are popular with Hawaiian clientele, was initially named but has since been redacted—but Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez recommended against such language, for fear that it would be found in violation of the First Amendment.
In its current form, the bill would tax transportation and lodging operators an unspecified amount, which would go towards state funds, to be used for problem gambling treatment and research.
Chang admitted that he did not expect his proposal would be as controversial as it has been, given that broadcast ad restrictions are already in place for things like alcohol, tobacco and contraceptives. Hawaii is, after all, one of just two U.S. states with no legal gambling whatsoever.
Some have pointed out that the circumstances are somewhat similar to a high-profile case in the mid-2000s in which rural Nevada brothels were permitted to continue advertising in Clark County despite the fact that the practice is illegal in that jurisdiction.
With regards to Boyd being named in the legislation, Chang told the Review-Journal, “As we know, out of all the gambling companies in Nevada, Boyd has a disproportionate share of the Nevada market. It was really more of an illustrative example to use them since they have made it clear that they don’t break out Hawaii-specific numbers in their financials, but we do know 300,000 made trips to Las Vegas every year. So we have circumstantial evidence of how much gambling is occurring by Hawaii residents and that was why Boyd Gaming was specifically named.”
Certain figures included in the first draft of the bill, such as the assertion that Hawaiians spend over $500 million at Boyd properties, were refuted by Boyd representatives in written testimony.
Hawaii’s current legislative session will end May 4.
