Is Kalshi Legal in Hawaii? (2026) Prediction Markets in HI

Is Kalshi legal in Hawaii? Yes, for now. Hawaii bans all gambling, but Kalshi and Polymarket operate there as federally regulated exchanges, and a 2026 bill to classify prediction markets as gambling stalled in the state Senate. This guide sets out where things stand, as of October 28, 2026.

At a glance

Platform	Hawaii status (Oct 2026)
Kalshi	Available, including sports, as of October 27, 2026
Polymarket US	Available, including sports, as of October 27, 2026
Novig	Not on Novig’s list of blocked states
Sportsbooks	Illegal: Hawaii bans all forms of gambling

What’s happened

Hawaii is one of only two states, with Utah, that ban all forms of gambling. Kalshi and Polymarket are regulated by the CFTC under federal commodities law rather than state gambling law, which is why they can operate there.
In February 2026 the House Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee advanced HB 2198, which would classify prediction markets as illegal gambling. The bill passed the House but never got a hearing in the Senate, where a senator said there wasn’t enough interest to schedule one. Its sponsor, Rep. Scot Matayoshi, plans to reintroduce it.
We found no enforcement action by Hawaii against prediction markets when we checked.

Sources, checked October 28, 2026:

Honolulu Civil Beat: betting on Hawaii politics is legal despite the gambling ban (Jul 29, 2026)
Yogonet: Hawaii House committee advances bill to ban prediction markets (Feb 9, 2026)
CBS Sports: prediction market legal states (Oct 27, 2026)
Novig developer docs: access and blocked states (checked Oct 28, 2026)

Why it matters

With every other form of gambling banned, prediction markets are the one way Hawaii residents can trade on sports or elections, which is why HB 2198’s sponsor wants them covered by the ban. Watch the 2027 session for the bill’s return. Utah, the other state with a total gambling ban, has been fighting Kalshi in court; see Utah. The national picture is in Is Kalshi legal?

FAQ

Is Kalshi legal in Hawaii?

Available as of late October 2026. A 2026 bill to ban prediction markets stalled in the state Senate. Check the Kalshi app for what’s available where you are.

Is Polymarket legal in Hawaii?

Polymarket US was available in Hawaii in late October 2026. Polymarket’s main exchange isn’t open to US residents.

Is sports betting legal in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii bans all forms of gambling.