Increased tourist travel from Hawaii to Las Vegas during the Formula One weekend could potentially benefit Boyd Gaming Corporation.
Rewritten Article
Despite an effort to legalize sports betting in Hawaii falling short in the state legislature, Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith remains unfazed. With a history spanning five decades, drawing Hawaiians to the company's downtown Las Vegas resorts, Smith believes they've earned a special trust with locals.
Take the University of Hawaii football team's game against UNLV at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 22, the same day as the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix. Boyd Gaming expects a heavy influx of Hawaiian visitors for this annual "Island Showdown," where the winning team secures the much-coveted pineapple trophy.
"Amazingly, the game was scheduled that way," Smith said, acknowledging Boyd's lobbying for the game during race weekend. "We don't see any win for F1, but the game will attract plenty of our customers on an otherwise quiet weekend for us."
In the event Hawaii had legalized online sports betting, Boyd would have jumped at the chance to enter the market. As it stands, Hawaii and Utah are the last two U.S. states without any form of legal gambling—casinos, sports betting, lottery, or horse racing.
Smith also believes legal sports betting in Hawaii wouldn't deter customers from flocking to Las Vegas. Boyd's revenue from its downtown casinos rose by 7 percent in the first quarter of the year.
The Prospects of Hawaii's Sports Betting Legalization
As of April 2025, Hawaii's push for sports betting legalization has hit a standstill. House Bill 1308, introduced by Rep. Daniel Holt, aimed to bring online sports betting and daily fantasy sports to the state. The bill managed to pass both the House and Senate but was left stalled in a conference committee due to unresolved disputes over amendments, such as tax rates and licensing fees[1][2][3]. Consequently, Hawaii will not legalize sports betting in 2025.
The current situation means no immediate threat to Boyd Gaming's operations in Las Vegas. The company's diverse gaming and entertainment offerings across several states ensure its independence from Hawaii's gambling laws. However, a future legalization of sports betting in Hawaii might potentially draw some tourists away from Nevada, as they may choose to indulge in sports betting locally rather than traveling to Vegas. Nevertheless, this scenario does not pose an immediate concern to Boyd Gaming's Las Vegas operations. The city remains a prime destination for gaming and tourism, backed by its diverse array of offerings and established gaming infrastructure.
In conclusion, Hawaii's delay in legalizing sports betting has little direct impact on Boyd Gaming's operations in Las Vegas. The overall impact on the gaming industry will depend on future legislative developments in Hawaii and their implications on the U.S. gaming landscape. For now, Boyd Gaming continues to operate unscathed by Hawaii's gambling laws.
[1] [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/online-gambling-bill-dead-hawaii-outer-islands-2025-04-01/][2] [https://www.hawaiireporter.com/hawaii-betting-on-legalized-betting-outcome-unclear-as-deadline-looms/][3] [https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/03/30/hawaii-lawmakers-on-brink-deciding-fate-online-sports-betting-bill/]
- Boyd Gaming, despite the failure of sports betting legalization in Hawaii, remains confident, given their long-established trust with locals in Las Vegas.
- With the University of Hawaii football game against UNLV coinciding with the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix, Boyd Gaming anticipates an influx of Hawaiian visitors for the annual "Island Showdown."
- If Hawaii had legalized online sports betting, Boyd Gaming would have seized the opportunity to venture into the market, given the absence of legal gambling in Hawaii and Utah.
- Boyd Gaming's revenue from downtown casinos rose by 7 percent in the first quarter of the year, indicating that legal sports betting in Hawaii might not deter customers from visiting Las Vegas.
- The current standstill in Hawaii's push for sports betting legalization presents no immediate threat to Boyd Gaming's operations in Las Vegas, but a future legalization could potentially draw some tourists away from Nevada.
