Bill Text: HI HB344 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Sports Wagering.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-08 - The committee(s) on ECD recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB344 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2023-HB344-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	344
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to sports wagering.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

regulation of sports wagering

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:

     "Adjusted gross sports wagering receipts" means a sports wagering operator's gross receipts from sports wagering excluding free bets and promotional credits, less the total of all winnings paid to patrons, which includes the cash equivalent of any merchandise or thing of value awarded as a prize, and less excise tax payments remitted to the federal government.

     "Collegiate sports" means an athletic or sporting event in which at least one participant is a team or contestant competing on behalf or under the sponsorship of a public or private institution of higher education, regardless of where the institution is located.

     "Department" means the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

     "License" means any license applied for or issued by the department under this chapter, including but not limited to:

     (1)  A mobile sports wagering license under section    -5 to permit a mobile sports wagering operator to operate sports wagering through an approved mobile application or other digital platform that involves, at least in part, the use of the Internet; and

     (2)  A sports wagering supplier license under section    -6 to sell goods and services to be used in connection with sports wagering but not to directly accept wagers.

     "National criminal history background check system" means the criminal history record system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation based on fingerprint identification or any other method of positive identification.

     "Professional sports or athletic event" means an event at which two or more contestants participate in a sports event or athletic event and one or more participants receive compensation and do not have collegiate eligibility.

     "Qualified gaming entity" means an entity that offers sports wagering through computers, mobile applications, or digital platforms in not less than three jurisdictions in the United States pursuant to a state regulatory structure.

     "Sports wagering" means the business of accepting wagers on wagering events or portions of wagering events, the individual performance statistics of individuals in wagering events, or a combination of any of the same by any system or method of wagering approved by the department via a mobile sports wagering licensee's mobile applications and digital platforms that use communications technology to accept wagers.  "Sports wagering" includes but is not limited to single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools, exchange wagering, in-game wagering, in-play bets, proposition bets, and straight bets.  "Sports wagering" does not include fantasy contests in which the winning outcome reflects the relative knowledge and skill of the participants and is determined predominantly by the accumulated statistical results of the performance of athletes or individuals in an actual event.

     "Sports wagering account" means a financial record established by a sports wagering operator for an individual patron in which the patron may deposit and withdraw funds for sports wagering and other authorized purchases and to which the licensed sports wagering operator may credit winnings or other amounts due to that patron or authorized by that patron.  A sports wagering account may be established electronically through an approved mobile application or digital platform.

     "Sports wagering operator" means a mobile sports wagering licensee pursuant to section    -5.

     "Sports wagering supplier" means a person that provides critical services to a sports betting operator; provided that critical services shall be deemed to be geolocation and know your customer services.

     "Wager" means a sum of money or thing of value risked on an uncertain occurrence.

     "Wagering event" means any professional sports or athletic event, collegiate sports or athletic event, or amateur sports or athletic event, including but not limited to an Olympic or international sports or athletic event; a motor vehicle race; electronic sports event, also known as e-sports; and any other event as permitted by the department.

     §   -2  Authorization of sports wagering; license required.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the operation of sports wagering and ancillary activities shall be lawful when conducted in accordance with this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.

     (b)  A person or entity shall not engage in any activities in the State that require a license under this chapter unless all necessary licenses have been obtained in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.

     §   -3  Application; criminal history background check.  (a)  An application for a license or for renewal of a license required under this chapter shall be submitted on an application form as prescribed by the department.  An application submitted to the department shall include the following:

     (1)  The full name, current address, and contact information of the applicant;

     (2)  Disclosure of each person that has control of the applicant as described in subsection (b);

     (3)  Consent to permit the department to conduct a criminal history record check in accordance with subsection (c) of the applicant and each person disclosed under subsection (b)(2) in accordance with procedures established by the department;

     (4)  For the applicant and each person disclosed under subsection (b)(2), a record of previous issuances and denials of a gambling-related license or application in the State or in any other jurisdiction;

     (5)  For a sports wagering operator applicant, proof that the sports wagering system has been tested and certified for use in another United States jurisdiction by an independent testing laboratory; and

     (6)  Any other information that the department may require by rule.

     (b)  The following persons shall be considered to have control of an applicant or a licensee:

     (1)  Each corporate holding company, parent company, or subsidiary company of a corporate applicant or licensee and each person who owns fifteen per cent or more of the corporate applicant or licensee and who has the ability to control the activities of the corporate applicant or licensee or elect a majority of the board of directors of that corporate applicant or licensee, except for a bank or other licensed lending institution that holds a mortgage or other lien acquired in the ordinary course of business;

     (2)  Each person associated with a noncorporate applicant or licensee that directly or indirectly holds a beneficial or proprietary interest in the noncorporate applicant's or licensee's business operation or that the department otherwise determines has the ability to control the noncorporate applicant or licensee; and

     (3)  Any executive, employee, or agent of an applicant or licensee who has ultimate decision-making authority over the conduct of the applicant's or licensee's sports wagering operations in the State.

     (c)  The department shall request a criminal history record check in the form the department requires and submit fingerprints for a national criminal records check against the national criminal history background check system.  The fingerprints shall be furnished by all persons required to be named in the application and shall be accompanied by a signed authorization for the release of information by a law enforcement agency in the State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; provided that an individual who has submitted to a criminal history record check in the State or any other state within the previous twelve months shall not be required to submit to another criminal history record check; provided further that the person shall submit the results of such previous criminal history record check and affirm that there has been no material change in the individual's criminal history since the time of the previous criminal history record check.

     (d)  A person licensed under this chapter shall give the department written notice within thirty days of any material change to any information provided in the licensee's application for a license or renewal, including any change in the identity of persons considered to have control of the licensee under subsection (b).

     (e)  The department shall keep all information, records, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data supplied to or used by the department in the course of its review or investigation of an applicant for an operator license confidential.  The department shall also keep confidential any trade secret, proprietary information, confidential commercial information, or confidential financial information pertaining to any applicant or licensee.

     §   -4  Denial of license; reprimand, suspension, and revocation.  The department may deny a license to any applicant, reprimand any licensee, or suspend or revoke a license if:

     (1)  The applicant or licensee has knowingly made a false statement of material fact to the department;

     (2)  The applicant or licensee has intentionally not disclosed the existence or identity of other persons that have control of the applicant or licensee as required by section    -3;

     (3)  The applicant or licensee has had a license revoked by any government authority responsible for regulation of gaming activities;

     (4)  The applicant has been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, gambling-related offense, theft or fraud offense, or has otherwise demonstrated, either by a police record or other satisfactory evidence, a lack of respect for law and order;

     (5)  The applicant or licensee has not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department financial responsibility sufficient to adequately meet the requirements of the licensed business or proposed business; or

     (6)  An applicant has not met the requirements of this section or any other provision of this chapter.

     §   -5  Mobile sports wagering operator license; issuance; fees; term of license; temporary license.  (a)  The department shall issue a mobile sports wagering operator license to an applicant that meets all requirements of this section, section    -3, and rules adopted under this chapter and that has not violated any portion of this chapter.  The department shall establish a process that ensures an equal opportunity for mobile sports wagering operators that submitted an application within thirty days of applications first being accepted by the department to first commence offering, conducting, and operating interactive sports wagering on the same day.

     (b)  Only a qualified gaming entity shall be eligible to apply for a mobile sports wagering operator license.

     (c)  A mobile sports wagering operator license granted by the department pursuant to this section shall grant a licensee the lawful authority to conduct sports wagering through a mobile application or digital platform approved by the department and any rules adopted under this chapter.

     (d)  The fee for an initial or renewal mobile sports wagering operator license shall be $          ; provided that the fee shall be retained by the department for the costs of administering this chapter.  In addition to the license fee, the department may charge a processing fee for an initial or renewal mobile sports wagering operator license in an amount equal to the projected cost of processing the application and performing any background investigations.  If the actual cost exceeds the projected cost, an additional fee may be charged to meet the actual cost; provided that if the projected cost exceeds the actual cost, the difference may be refunded to the applicant or licensee.

     (e)  Except as provided in subsection (f), a license granted or renewed under this section shall be valid for three years, unless sooner revoked by the department pursuant to section    ‑4.

     (f)  An applicant for a mobile sports wagering operator license may submit with the application a request to the department for the immediate commencement of sports wagering operations through a temporary license; provided that this request shall include the initial license fee of $           payable to the department.  Upon receiving a request for a temporary license, the department shall review the request.  If the department determines that the entity requesting the temporary license is a qualified gaming entity, has paid the initial license fee, and has submitted an application for a mobile sports wagering license, the department shall authorize the qualified gaming entity to conduct sports wagering for three years under a temporary license or until a final determination on the sports wagering operator's license application is made.  Sports wagering conducted under authority of a temporary license shall comply with the sports wagering operator's house rules adopted pursuant to section    -7.  The department shall establish a process that ensures an equal opportunity for all temporary licensees that submitted an application within thirty days of applications first being accepted by the department to commence offering, conducting, and operating interactive sports wagering on the same day, which may be in advance of the date established for licensees that are not eligible for a temporary license.

     §   -6  Sports wagering supplier license; issuance; fees; term of license; temporary license.  (a)  The department shall issue a sports wagering supplier license upon finding that the applicant meets all requirements of this section, section    -3, and rules adopted under this chapter.

     (b)  An applicant for a sports wagering supplier license shall demonstrate that the equipment, systems, or services that the applicant plans to offer to a sports wagering operator conform to standards established by the department by rule.  The department may accept approval by another jurisdiction that is specifically determined by the department to have similar equipment standards as evidence the applicant meets the standards established by the department.

     (c)  A sports wagering supplier license granted by the department pursuant to this section shall grant a licensee lawful authority to sell or lease sports wagering equipment, systems, or services to sports wagering operators in the State within the terms and conditions of the license and any rules adopted under this chapter.

     (d)  The fee for an initial or renewal sports wagering supplier license shall be $          ; provided that the fee shall be retained by the department for the costs of administering this chapter.  In addition to the license fee, the department may charge a processing fee for an initial or renewed license in an amount equal to the projected cost of processing the application and performing any background investigations.  If the actual cost exceeds the projected cost, an additional fee may be charged to meet the actual cost; provided that if the projected cost exceeds the actual cost, the difference may be refunded to the applicant or licensee.

     (e)  Except as provided in subsection (f), a license granted or renewed under this section shall be valid for three years unless sooner revoked by the department under section    ‑4.

     (f)  An applicant for a sports wagering supplier license may submit with the application a request for a temporary license; provided that the request for a temporary license shall include the initial license fee of $         .  If the department determines that the applicant is qualified under subsection (b), meets the requirements established by rule for a temporary license, and has paid the initial license fee and the department is not aware of any reason the applicant is ineligible for a license under this section, the department shall issue a temporary sports wagering supplier license.  A temporary sports wagering supplier license issued under this subsection shall be valid for three years or until a final determination on the sports wagering supplier license application is made, whichever is sooner.  If after investigation the department determines that the applicant is eligible for a sports wagering supplier license under this chapter, the department shall issue the initial sports wagering supplier license, at which time the temporary license shall be terminated.

     §   -7  Sports wagering; house rules.  (a)  A sports wagering operator shall adopt comprehensive house rules for game play governing sports wagering transactions with its patrons.  The rules shall specify the amounts to be paid on winning wagers, the circumstances under which the sports wagering operator will void a bet, treatment of errors, late bets and related contingencies, and the effect of schedule changes.  The department shall approve house rules prior to implementation by a sports wagering operator.

     (b)  The house rules, together with any other information the department determines to be appropriate, shall be available in the sports wagering system.

     §   -8  Sports wagering operator; duties.  A sports wagering operator shall:

     (1)  Employ a monitoring system using software to identify irregularities in volume or odds swings that could signal suspicious activity that requires further investigation; provided that such activity shall be promptly reported to and investigated by the department; provided further that system requirements and specifications shall be in accordance with industry standards;

     (2)  Promptly report to the department any facts or circumstances related to the operation of a licensee that constitute a violation of state or federal law and immediately report any suspicious betting over a threshold set by the operator that has been approved by the department;

     (3)  Conduct all sports wagering activities and functions in a manner that does not pose a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the State;

     (4)  Keep current in all payments and obligations to the department;

     (5)  Prevent any person from tampering with or interfering with the operation of any sports wagering;

     (6)  Ensure that sports wagering occurs using only a mobile application or digital platform approved by the department that uses communications technology to accept wagers originating in the State or in a state or jurisdiction approved by the department and consistent with federal law;

     (7)  Maintain sufficient cash and other supplies to conduct sports wagering at all times;

     (8)  Maintain daily records showing the gross sports wagering receipts and adjusted gross sports wagering receipts of the licensee; and

     (9)  Timely file with the department any additional reports required by this chapter or by rule adopted under this chapter.

     §   -9  Sports wagering agreements.  (a)  The department shall be authorized to:

     (1)  Enter into sports wagering agreements with other states, territories, nations, jurisdictions, governments, or other entities to accept wagers from individuals located outside the State; provided that entering into the sports wagering agreement shall not violate state or federal law; and

     (2)  Take all necessary actions to ensure that any sports wagering agreement entered into pursuant to this section becomes effective.

     (b)  The department may adopt rules to implement this section.

     §   -10  Acceptance of wagers; excluded persons.  (a)  A sports wagering operator shall accept wagers on sports events by means of electronic devices using a mobile application or digital platform approved by the department.  A person placing a wager shall be eighteen years of age or older and be physically located in the State.  No person shall offer sports wagering at a physical location via kiosks, computer terminals, or other means established for that purpose.

     (b)  A sports wagering operator shall allow patrons to fund a sports wagering account using:

     (1)  A credit or debit card;

     (2)  Bonuses or promotions;

     (3)  Electronic bank transfer;

     (4)  An online or mobile payment system that supports online money transfers; and

     (5)  Any other means approved by the department.

     (c)  A sports wagering operator may accept wagers from a patron physically located in the State through the patron's sports wagering account, using a mobile application or digital platform approved by the department.  The branding for each mobile application or digital platform shall be determined by the sports wagering operator.

     (d)  A sports wagering operator may accept layoff wagers placed by other sports wagering operators and may place layoff wagers with other sports wagering operators as long as a sports wagering operator that places a wager with another sports wagering operator informs the sports wagering operator accepting the wager that the wager is being placed by a sports wagering operator and discloses the wagering operator's identity.

     (e)  The department or a sports wagering operator may ban a person from participating in the play or operation of sports wagering.  A log of all excluded persons shall be kept by the department and shared with each sports wagering operator.  A person on the department's exclusion list or a sports wagering operator's exclusion list shall not engage in sports wagering under this chapter.

     (f)  An employee of a sports wagering operator shall not place a wager on any wagering event through a mobile application or digital platform of that employee's employer.

     §   -11  Sports wagering revenues; tax.  For the privilege of holding a license to operate sports wagering under this chapter, a tax of            per cent of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts shall be levied on the licensee.  The accrual method of accounting shall be used for purposes of calculating the amount of the tax owed by the licensee.

     §   -12  Civil violation.  Except as provided in section    ‑13, a person that violates the provisions of this chapter commits a civil violation for which the department may impose a fine of not more than $5,000 for each violation.  The department may impose a fine on any person who violates this chapter and shall not be limited to persons licensed under this chapter.

     §   -13  Civil violation; subsequent violations.  (a)  A person, other than a licensee under this chapter, who conducts sports wagering shall be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 and a term of imprisonment of not more than ninety days.

     (b)  A person convicted of a second violation or subsequent violation of subsection (a) shall be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 and a term of imprisonment of not more than six months.

     (c)  A person convicted of a third or subsequent violation of subsection (a) shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25,000 and not more than $100,000 and a term of imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than five years.

     §   -14  Exemption from gambling.  Sports wagering operated by a sports wagering operator that is licensed under this chapter shall be exempt from part III of chapter 712."

     SECTION 2.  Section 237-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§237-13  Imposition of tax.  There is hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected annually privilege taxes against persons on account of their business and other activities in the State measured by the application of rates against values of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income, whichever is specified, as follows:

     (1)  Tax on manufacturers.

          (A)  Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in the business of manufacturing, including compounding, canning, preserving, packing, printing, publishing, milling, processing, refining, or preparing for sale, profit, or commercial use, either directly or through the activity of others, in whole or in part, any article or articles, substance or substances, commodity or commodities, the amount of the tax to be equal to the value of the articles, substances, or commodities, manufactured, compounded, canned, preserved, packed, printed, milled, processed, refined, or prepared for sale, as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the manufacturer or person compounding, preparing, or printing them, multiplied by one-half of one per cent.

          (B)  The measure of the tax on manufacturers is the value of the entire product for sale.

     (2)  Tax on business of selling tangible personal property; producing.

          (A)  Upon every person engaging or continuing in the business of selling any tangible personal property whatsoever, there is likewise hereby levied, and shall be assessed and collected, a tax equivalent to four per cent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business; provided that, in the case of a wholesaler, the tax shall be equal to one-half of one per cent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business; and provided further that insofar as the sale of tangible personal property is a wholesale sale under section 237-4(a)(8), the tax shall be one-half of one per cent of the gross proceeds.  Upon every person engaging or continuing within this State in the business of a producer, the tax shall be equal to one-half of one per cent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business, or the value of the products, for sale.

          (B)  Gross proceeds of sales of tangible property in interstate and foreign commerce shall constitute a part of the measure of the tax imposed on persons in the business of selling tangible personal property, to the extent, under the conditions, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Acts of the Congress of the United States which may be now in force or may be hereafter adopted, and whenever there occurs in the State an activity to which, under the Constitution and Acts of Congress, there may be attributed gross proceeds of sales, the gross proceeds shall be so attributed.

          (C)  No manufacturer or producer, engaged in such business in the State and selling the manufacturer's or producer's products for delivery outside of the State (for example, consigned to a mainland purchaser via common carrier f.o.b. Honolulu), shall be required to pay the tax imposed in this chapter for the privilege of so selling the products, and the value or gross proceeds of sales of the products shall be included only in determining the measure of the tax imposed upon the manufacturer or producer.

          (D)  A manufacturer or producer, engaged in such business in the State, shall pay the tax imposed in this chapter for the privilege of selling its products in the State, and the value or gross proceeds of sales of the products, thus subjected to tax, may be deducted insofar as duplicated as to the same products by the measure of the tax upon the manufacturer or producer for the privilege of manufacturing or producing in the State; provided that no producer of agricultural products who sells the products to a purchaser who will process the products outside the State shall be required to pay the tax imposed in this chapter for the privilege of producing or selling those products.

          (E)  A taxpayer selling to a federal cost-plus contractor may make the election provided for by paragraph (3)(C), and in that case the tax shall be computed pursuant to the election, notwithstanding this paragraph or paragraph (1) to the contrary.

          (F)  The department, by rule, may require that a seller take from the purchaser of tangible personal property a certificate, in a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the sale is a sale at wholesale; provided that:

              (i)  Any purchaser who furnishes a certificate shall be obligated to pay to the seller, upon demand, the amount of the additional tax that is imposed upon the seller whenever the sale in fact is not at wholesale; and

             (ii)  The absence of a certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the sale is not at wholesale unless the sales of the business are exclusively at wholesale.

     (3)  Tax upon contractors.

          (A)  Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in the business of contracting, the tax shall be equal to four per cent of the gross income of the business.

          (B)  In computing the tax levied under this paragraph, there shall be deducted from the gross income of the taxpayer so much thereof as has been included in the measure of the tax levied under subparagraph (A), on another taxpayer who is a contractor, as defined in section 237-6; provided that any person claiming a deduction under this paragraph shall be required to show in the person's return the name and general excise number of the person paying the tax on the amount deducted by the person.

          (C)  In computing the tax levied under this paragraph against any federal cost-plus contractor, there shall be excluded from the gross income of the contractor so much thereof as fulfills the following requirements:

              (i)  The gross income exempted shall constitute reimbursement of costs incurred for materials, plant, or equipment purchased from a taxpayer licensed under this chapter, not exceeding the gross proceeds of sale of the taxpayer on account of the transaction; and

             (ii)  The taxpayer making the sale shall have certified to the department that the taxpayer is taxable with respect to the gross proceeds of the sale, and that the taxpayer elects to have the tax on gross income computed the same as upon a sale to the state government.

          (D)  A person who, as a business or as a part of a business in which the person is engaged, erects, constructs, or improves any building or structure, of any kind or description, or makes, constructs, or improves any road, street, sidewalk, sewer, or water system, or other improvements on land held by the person (whether held as a leasehold, fee simple, or otherwise), upon the sale or other disposition of the land or improvements, even if the work was not done pursuant to a contract, shall be liable to the same tax as if engaged in the business of contracting, unless the person shows that at the time the person was engaged in making the improvements the person intended, and for the period of at least one year after completion of the building, structure, or other improvements the person continued to intend to hold and not sell or otherwise dispose of the land or improvements.  The tax in respect of the improvements shall be measured by the amount of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition that is attributable to the erection, construction, or improvement of such building or structure, or the making, constructing, or improving of the road, street, sidewalk, sewer, or water system, or other improvements.  The measure of tax in respect of the improvements shall not exceed the amount which would have been taxable had the work been performed by another, subject as in other cases to the deductions allowed by subparagraph (B).  Upon the election of the taxpayer, this paragraph may be applied notwithstanding that the improvements were not made by the taxpayer, or were not made as a business or as a part of a business, or were made with the intention of holding the same.  However, this paragraph shall not apply in respect of any proceeds that constitute or are in the nature of rent, which shall be taxable under paragraph (9); provided that insofar as the business of renting or leasing real property under a lease is taxed under section 237-16.5, the tax shall be levied by section 237-16.5.

     (4)  Tax upon theaters, amusements, radio broadcasting stations, etc.

          (A)  Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in the business of operating a theater, opera house, moving picture show, vaudeville, amusement park, dance hall, skating rink, radio broadcasting station, or any other place at which amusements are offered to the public, the tax shall be equal to four per cent of the gross income of the business, and in the case of a sale of an amusement at wholesale under section 237-4(a)(13), the tax shall be one-half of one per cent of the gross income.

          (B)  The department may require that the person rendering an amusement at wholesale take from the licensed seller a certificate, in a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the sale is a sale at wholesale; provided that:

              (i)  Any licensed seller who furnishes a certificate shall be obligated to pay to the person rendering the amusement, upon demand, the amount of additional tax that is imposed upon the seller whenever the sale is not at wholesale; and

             (ii)  The absence of a certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the sale is not at wholesale unless the person rendering the sale is exclusively rendering the amusement at wholesale.

     (5)  Tax upon sales representatives, etc.  Upon every person classified as a representative or purchasing agent under section 237-1, engaging or continuing within the State in the business of performing services for another, other than as an employee, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to four per cent of the commissions and other compensation attributable to the services so rendered by the person.

     (6)  Tax on service business.

          (A)  Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in any service business or calling including professional services not otherwise specifically taxed under this chapter, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to four per cent of the gross income of the business, and in the case of a wholesaler under section 237-4(a)(10), the tax shall be equal to one-half of one per cent of the gross income of the business.

          (B)  The department may require that the person rendering a service at wholesale take from the licensed seller a certificate, in a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the sale is a sale at wholesale; provided that:

              (i)  Any licensed seller who furnishes a certificate shall be obligated to pay to the person rendering the service, upon demand, the amount of additional tax that is imposed upon the seller whenever the sale is not at wholesale; and

             (ii)  The absence of a certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the sale is not at wholesale unless the person rendering the sale is exclusively rendering services at wholesale.

          (C)  Where any person is engaged in the business of selling interstate or foreign common carrier telecommunication services within and without the State, other than as a home service provider, the tax shall be imposed on that portion of gross income received by a person from service which is originated or terminated in this State and is charged to a telephone number, customer, or account in this State notwithstanding any other state law (except for the exemption under section 237-23(a)(1)) to the contrary.  If, under the Constitution and laws of the United States, the entire gross income as determined under this paragraph of a business selling interstate or foreign common carrier telecommunication services cannot be included in the measure of the tax, the gross income shall be apportioned as provided in section 237-21; provided that the apportionment factor and formula shall be the same for all persons providing those services in the State.

          (D)  Where any person is engaged in the business of a home service provider, the tax shall be imposed on the gross income received or derived from providing interstate or foreign mobile telecommunications services to a customer with a place of primary use in this State when the services originate in one state and terminate in another state, territory, or foreign country; provided that all charges for mobile telecommunications services which are billed by or for the home service provider are deemed to be provided by the home service provider at the customer's place of primary use, regardless of where the mobile telecommunications originate, terminate, or pass through; provided further that the income from charges specifically derived from interstate or foreign mobile telecommunications services, as determined by books and records that are kept in the regular course of business by the home service provider in accordance with section 239-24, shall be apportioned under any apportionment factor or formula adopted under subparagraph (C).  Gross income shall not include:

              (i)  Gross receipts from mobile telecommunications services provided to a customer with a place of primary use outside this State;

             (ii)  Gross receipts from mobile telecommunications services that are subject to the tax imposed by chapter 239;

            (iii)  Gross receipts from mobile telecommunications services taxed under section 237-13.8; and

             (iv)  Gross receipts of a home service provider acting as a serving carrier providing mobile telecommunications services to another home service provider's customer.

              For the purposes of this paragraph, "charges for mobile telecommunications services", "customer", "home service provider", "mobile telecommunications services", "place of primary use", and "serving carrier" have the same meaning as in section 239-22.

     (7)  Tax on insurance producers.  Upon every person engaged as a licensed producer pursuant to chapter 431, there is hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to 0.15 per cent of the commissions due to that activity.

     (8)  Tax on receipts of sugar benefit payments.  Upon the amounts received from the United States government by any producer of sugar (or the producer's legal representative or heirs), as defined under and by virtue of the Sugar Act of 1948, as amended, or other Acts of the Congress of the United States relating thereto, there is hereby levied a tax of one-half of one per cent of the gross amount received; provided that the tax levied hereunder on any amount so received and actually disbursed to another by a producer in the form of a benefit payment shall be paid by the person or persons to whom the amount is actually disbursed, and the producer actually making a benefit payment to another shall be entitled to claim on the producer's return a deduction from the gross amount taxable hereunder in the sum of the amount so disbursed.  The amounts taxed under this paragraph shall not be taxable under any other paragraph, subsection, or section of this chapter.

     (9)  Tax on licensed sports wagering.  Upon every person engaged in sports wagering as a licensed sports wagering operator or sports wagering supplier in the State pursuant to chapter    , there is hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to            per cent of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts.  For purposes of this paragraph "adjusted gross sports wagering receipts" shall have the same meaning as in section    -1.

    [(9)] (10)  Tax on other business.  Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in any business, trade, activity, occupation, or calling not included in the preceding paragraphs or any other provisions of this chapter, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected, a tax equal to four per cent of the gross income thereof.  In addition, the rate prescribed by this paragraph shall apply to a business taxable under one or more of the preceding paragraphs or other provisions of this chapter, as to any gross income thereof not taxed thereunder as gross income or gross proceeds of sales or by taxing an equivalent value of products, unless specifically exempted."

     SECTION 3.  Section 712-1220, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definitions of "contest of chance" and "gambling" to read as follows:

     ""Contest of chance" means 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.  "Contest of chance" does not include sports wagering pursuant to chapter    .

     "Gambling"[.  A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks] means staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under [his] a person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that [he] the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.  [Gambling] "Gambling" does not include [bona]:

     (a)  Bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities[, and agreements];

     (b)  Agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health, or accident insurance[.]; and

     (c)  Sports wagering activities authorized pursuant to chapter    ."

     SECTION 4.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Sports Wagering; Sports Wagering Operators; Sports Wagering Suppliers; License

 

Description:

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the department of business, economic development, and tourism.  Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers.  Specifies that sports wagering shall not be considered games of chance or gambling.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.