Butch Kerzner, president of Sun International, spoken with key legislators February 7 about his plans for an $800 million casino resort at Ko Olina.

Of the fifty states, only in Utah, Tennessee, and Hawaii have no legalized gambling; but Kerzner is asking the Hawaii Legislature to allow gambling on a single piece of property in return for casino taxes and fees that could be used for college scholarships. 에볼루션 바카라사이트

Kerzner thinks the combination of a world-class resort and casino would be a natural in Hawaii. "There is a real opportunity to develop a product that will catch the Japanese market," says Kerzner.

Hawaii Governor Ben Cayetano traveled to see Sun International's elaborate Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas, which Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham says should be credited with regenerating the once declining tourism and hotel sector.

Gambling critics argue that saying "aloha" to any casino gambling in Hawaii would just be a step in legalizing gambling across the state and bringing in organized crime and problem gambling.

House Speaker Calvin Say doubts whether Kerzner can persuade the Legislature. "I'm not sure if there is the critical mass," he says.