Online Honolulu Poker Rooms in HI

Honolulu, HI is one of the best destinations for travelers, but it’s the exact opposite for card game fans.

Hawaii is against all forms of gambling and has no land- or web-based poker venues supported by the state.

Nevertheless, players based in Honolulu, HI have discovered offshore online rooms and started joining them despite the severe laws governing the industry.

As this may sound confusing, our team of experts has decided to help out. You can find the answers about online poker legality on this page, along with the top-rated poker sites that accept HI players.

Best Online Poker Sites in Honolulu, Hawaii

Before making the list of the best operators in a state, a poker site must prove itself in several aspects. A stellar reputation and advanced security measures are the first boxes to tick, followed by a diverse selection of games and tournaments with flexible limits and buy-ins. Bonuses and promotions are equally important, as are payment methods and transaction processing.

Our scouted sites compete in these categories to attract Honolulu, Hawaii players. They’re all doing pretty well, so one of them must have what it needs to get your attention.

My list of the best poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2024:

Is Online Poker Legal in Honolulu, HI?

The Aloha State forbids all games of chance except for social gambling, and it has stood by this decision for many years. While some aficionados argue that poker shouldn’t be prohibited because it requires certain skills, HI legislators disagree.

The Hawaii Penal Code states that a contest of chance is “any contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.” There’ve been several attempts to regulate online gambling in the state, but none of them gained much traction.

Still, if we were to follow the law to the letter, we’d see the Penal Code doesn’t explicitly prohibit playing on offshore poker sites. That’s why many Hawaiians visit these platforms and take part in numerous cash games and tournaments. Of course, as these activities are in a gray area, it’s best to consult a legal expert and clear any doubts.

Honolulu, HI Poker Laws

Read the following documents for more information about prohibited and allowed gambling practices in Honolulu, HI:

• Hawaii Penal Code, Division 5, Title 37, §712-1220 — Gambling definitions
• Hawaii Penal Code, Division 5, Title 37, §712-1231 — Social Gambling

How to Choose the Best Online Poker Room in Honolulu, HI

Picking the right poker room is hard, even when you have a list of decent candidates at your fingertips. But if you follow our simple tips and know what to look for, this task becomes much easier. Keep reading to learn what to focus on in your search for the best poker site.

Benefits of Playing Online Poker in Honolulu, HI

All things considered, playing poker on offshore sites is one of the best options for Honolulu, Hawaii residents, and here’s why:

• As you can’t find any brick-and-mortar venues with poker tables in Honolulu or the rest of Hawaii, you’d have to spend a lot of time and money to reach such establishments in other US states. On the other hand, you can join an offshore poker room without leaving your home and spending a fortune on the trip and additional expenses.
• International poker sites serve players across the planet, meaning that they work around the clock. Therefore, you can play the games whenever you find it most convenient.
• The selection of cash games and tournaments at offshore poker rooms is excellent. You’ll be able to find a game variation that you like within a few minutes and try different competitions like SnGs, freezeouts, bounties, and even freerolls.
• When playing online, you can sit at multiple virtual tables at once, which adds a thrill to the standard gaming experience and potentially increases your winning chances.

Famous Poker Players From Honolulu, HI

Although Hawaii prohibits poker, some of the state’s residents have managed to generate 7-figure incomes from this popular game. Three of the most successful HI poker pros come from Honolulu:

Michael Chow — Chow is a WSOP bracelet winner with career earnings of $1,366,548. Aside from his biggest win, when he cashed $237,463, he came close to taking a bracelet on several other occasions.

Lisa Hamilton — The first HI resident to win a WSOP bracelet, Lisa Hamilton is the best female poker player from Honolulu, Hawaii. She’s currently the fourth player on the state’s All-Time Money List, with winnings exceeding $1.3 million.

Shaun Suller — Though he hasn’t claimed any bracelets so far, Suller has still generated more than $1.1 million from poker tournaments. Most of that money came from his third-place finish at the 2014 WPT Main Event, when he took home $477,470.

Best Land-Based Poker Rooms in Honolulu, HI

Owing to Hawaii’s anti-gambling attitude, there are no land-based poker rooms, tribal casinos, or commercial gambling venues in the state capital. What’s more, the harsh rules apply to every inch of Hawaii’s land, which is why you won’t find any brick-and-mortar gambling options in other cities, either.

If you want to take part in live poker games and tournaments, you’d have to catch a flight to the US mainland and visit some of the states where gambling is allowed, like Nevada or California.

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