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Read on and learn about the biggest poker tournaments in the Aloha State
Traveling to Hawaii might feel like completing a royal flush on the river, but that’s pretty much all you’ll get from poker in the Aloha State. As soon as you leave the airplane and step onto HI ground, you’ll have to abstain from gambling, including poker cash games and tournaments.
Simply put, Hawaii has banned all gambling forms, meaning poker players might find “heaven on Earth” quite the opposite without knowing this fact. Therefore, if you’re a poker player — especially one who enjoys live poker tournaments — your only reason to travel to HI is to get a break from your favorite activity.
Hawaii doesn’t have any casinos or sports betting operations. Moreover, it has also banned other forms of gambling that you’ll likely find even in gambling-hostile states, such as the state lottery.
Does that mean you won’t find any poker tournaments in Hawaii whatsoever? Well, like many other states, Hawaii hasn’t officially criminalized offshore poker sites, which means you can take part in online games offered at internationally-licensed platforms.
There are no poker tournaments or any other kind of land-based gambling in Hawaii, so the state doesn’t qualify as a poker haven. No legal gambling options exist in HI, and poker players can only access online offshore poker platforms.
Despite that, several successful poker players born or residing in Hawaii have seen a fair share of tournaments.
The most successful player is Brandon Eisen, a resident of Mililani, HI. According to the Hendon Mob, he is #1 in Hawaii and #628 on the US all-time money list, with total live earnings of $1,950,253. Eisen’s greatest tournament win came after topping the $5,250 No Limit Hold’em – SHRPO Championship (Event #19), which was part of the 2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open. The prize was $771,444.
You might be wondering whether you’ll break the law if you join an offshore platform. Hawaii Penal Code, Division 5, Title 37, §712-1220 has a broad definition of gambling, which states that a person will gamble if the element of staking something of value is included.
In strict legal terms, you’ll engage in the act of gambling if you join an online poker site licensed outside HI and make a bet. However, nobody has been prosecuted for doing so, especially tourists who play online poker on offshore sites while visiting Hawaii.
Still, you should be careful when picking a poker platform, as offshore poker sites sometimes offer subpar tournaments, no matter how well they’re marketed. Therefore, our team of poker experts decided to narrow down the list of offshore sites available in Hawaii and include only platforms that passed our strict test.
There are no land-based poker tournaments in Hawaii at the moment.
The only way to play poker is via offshore poker sites.
Should you decide to join an online poker platform that offers its services in Hawaii, you need to become a registered member.
This is no different than joining any other online gambling platform, but we decided to make a short step-by-step guide and help you through the process.
There are plenty of offshore platforms offering their services to Hawaii residents and visitors.
Our team selected the best ones, but you should be the one to make the final call, as each platform has a unique offer. That is to say, the tournament selection is different everywhere, and we recommend learning more about the available events before opening an account.
Once you pick an online poker site, you must register to play for real money. This process is usually quick, and you’re required to enter the requested information, including your username, password, email, and more. Email verification might also be necessary to complete the registration process.
After becoming a registered member, you need to deposit your funds to be able to purchase tournament buy-in tickets. Deposits are conducted via one of the accepted payment methods. The good news is that many offshore poker platforms accept various fiat and crypto payment options.
The offshore gambling landscape is pretty competitive, and many online platforms offer lucrative bonuses for new players to attract them. Be sure to claim the bonus when making your first deposit and kickstart your experience.
Select a contest based on your preferred criteria and buy your way in to start playing.
Since all gambling is banned in Hawaii and there are no federally recognized tribes, you’ll find no casinos there. Hawaii makes most of its profit from tourism and none through gambling. The government seems determined to keep it that way for a long time.
Even though there aren’t any live poker tournaments in Hawaii, you can still find a lot of online tournaments at offshore poker sites.
Look at the schedule below to learn more about the latest competitions on poker platforms.
Kindly be aware that some links on Top 10 Poker Sites are affiliate links, for which we may earn a commission. Find out more on our terms & conditions
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To sum up, Hawaii isn’t the first state that comes to mind when gambling is mentioned. On the contrary, it remains the only state besides Utah to have banned all forms of gambling, including poker. Poker players aren’t left with anything when it comes to live tournaments.
Online poker, however, exists as many offshore platforms offer their services in many states, including Hawaii.
The only type of online poker tournaments you’ll find available in Hawaii are offered by offshore poker platforms licensed outside the US.
You can join an offshore poker site to participate in a poker tournament. However, stick to the platforms featured on our site, as they are checked for fairness, security, and trustworthiness.
There are no HI-licensed online poker rooms. The best offshore platforms are presented on this page, so feel free to sift through the list and find the best options for you.
Unfortunately, gambling remains illegal in HI, but you can still find online poker tournaments via offshore platforms.