HONOLULU – The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Narcotics/Vice Division announced that permits to operate video amusement devices are now available on the department’s website. The permits are required under a new city law designed to combat illegal gambling by allowing law enforcement to distinguish permitted video amusement devices from those used in illegal gambling operations.
Electronic Amusement Devices, Chapter 34, Section 18 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, requires businesses that have video amusement devices available for public play to obtain a permit from the Honolulu Police Department. A video amusement device is defined as a digital or electronic amusement device that offers video- or graphic-based gameplay through electronic or digital means. These devices include, but are not limited to, video games, virtual reality simulators and dance or motion games, but exclude music devices and vending machines.
Under the new law, operating video amusement devices without a permit may result in enforcement action ranging from a warning to a misdemeanor charge.
The permit form is available on the HPD Narcotics/Vice Division website for download and contains instructions on how to complete the form:
https://www.honolulupd.org/narcotics-vice-division
Questions about the process for applying for a permit can be directed to the HPD Narcotics/Vice Division at 808-723-3933 or [email protected].