HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

116

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

CONVENING A GAMblING ADVISORY GROUP TO EXAMINE AND ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF GROWING ACCESS TO ONLINE AND ILLEGAL GAMblING IN HAWAII.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, seventy-five percent of all people in the United States now have easy access to the internet through computers, smart phones, and other platforms; and

 

     WHEREAS, Americans illegally wagered tens of billions of dollars through online gambling platforms on sporting events in 2017 and billions more on other games of chance; and

 

     WHEREAS, the growth of numerous online gambling platforms allowing adults and minors to spend real money placing bets and buying chances to win something of value in online games of chance has begun to circumvent Hawaii's prohibitions on gambling; and

 

     WHEREAS, numerous online gambling platforms have also been intentionally targeting and marketing games of chance to minors and employing online data collection to identify individuals who may psychologically be the most likely to maximize betting; and

 

     WHEREAS, the impacts of growing access to online gambling have begun to have significant real-world consequences such as financial, psychological, and cognitive developmental problems, particularly among minors who have easy access to such platforms; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the Senate concurring, that a Gambling Advisory Group is convened to examine and assess the impacts of growing access to online and illegal gambling in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Gambling Advisory Group shall serve without compensation and be co-chaired by the Chairs of the House and Senate standing committees on Judiciary, and shall include the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee, the Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection in the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs or the Executive Director's designee, the Director of Health or the Director's designee, a member with experience and background in public education, and any other members who may appointed by the co-chairs; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to provide staff support and administrative support to the Gambling Advisory Group, including clerical and research services, as needed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Gambling Advisory Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2020 and 2021; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Attorney General, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, Director of Health, and Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Gambling Advisory Group