Gov. Josh Green signed into law 17 bills aimed at crime prevention, public safety and law enforcement, including one that makes those owning or operating illegal gambling houses criminally responsible.
Senate Bill 2197 expands the definition of “advance gambling activity” to include various forms of material aid to gambling activities, such as creating gambling games, maintaining equipment and managing financial operations. The new law emphasizes the responsibility of those with control over premises used for gambling.
In written testimony submitted in favor of the bill, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu said the measure fixes a flaw in the former law. That statute included the words “or makes no effort to prevent its occurrence or continuation,” and the new law deletes those words.
