HONOLULU — The Honolulu City Council is considering making it illegal to own a gambling machine, tightening rules that have led to arrests but no prosecutions.
Hawaii is one of two states in the country with no forms of legalized gambling, including casinos or lotteries.
But recent raids on gambling parlors on Oahu have not resulted in any prosecutions.
Councilman Joey Manahan says he wants to give law enforcement more tools to crack down on gambling.
He says more establishments with sweepstakes machines have been popping up and neighbors have complained.
The bill would make it a misdemeanor to manage, maintain, produce, possess or use the machines. It would be punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Companies that own the machines say they’re not gambling devices.