By John Temple 02/01/2012

Hawaii voters aren't ready to roll the dice on legalized gambling, according to the latest Civil Beat Poll.

The Hawaii Legislature keeps coming back to gambling as a way to raise revenues, but the Civil Beat Poll found that 59 percent of likely voters think that gambling should remain illegal in Hawaii.

It follows, then, that 62 percent of voters opposed the idea of allowing a single casino in Waikiki, a proposal that has the backing of a group called Citizens for a Better Way. Gov. Neil Abercrombie didn't mention gambling or a casino in this year's State of the State speech, but he's made it public that he's willing to consider the possibility, with some saying he's told them that he would "look favorably" at it.

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Hawaii is the only state other than Utah that prohibits gambling. Advocates of allowing a single casino point to the amount of travel from Hawaii to Las Vegas every year and the amount of money that flows out of the state as a result, as well as the lack of entertainment options in Waikiki.

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/01/14722-civil-beat-poll-hawaii-voters-dont-want-gambling-single-casino/