Hawaii Lottery (HI): FAQs and How to Play

Is there a lottery in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii is among 6 US states that do not have a state-operated lottery, together with Alabama, Alaska lottery, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah.

Why Hawaii Doesn’t Have a State Lottery

Hawaii laws do not permit gambling of any kind within its borders. Similar to Nevada lottery.

Under Hawaii law, participating in gambling, including the lottery, is classified as a misdemeanor. Promoting gambling can be a class C felony.

Can you buy lottery tickets in Hawaii?

No, you can't. Lottery in Hawaii is considered illegal just like Utah Lottery.

How can people in Hawaii play lottery?

Residents of Hawaii will have to cross borders and travel to a state/country where lottery is legal to play. From there, they are free to buy as many tickets as they'd like and take them back home with them.

Can you win the lottery if you live in Hawaii?

Yes, you can, but you'll have to pay additional state taxes on top of any standard taxes that already apply.

Is online gambling allowed in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii's anti-gambling laws apply to all forms of gambling, including gambling over the internet.

Will Hawaii ever get the lottery?

It's definitely been suggested in the past. Lawmakers have been pushing for a Hawaii-sponsored lottery for decades. They believe that it could help address the state's homelessness problem, which is considered to be one of the most severe in the US.

However, many skeptics remain unconvinced. Their main arguments being that a lottery in Hawaii would be largely unnecessary, too costly, and ultimately do more harm than good to the community.

In other words, don't expect Hawaii Lottery to happen – not anytime soon, anyway.