Nebraska Gaming Commission

4/13/2022by admin

Gambling Initiatives Nebraska
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State Of Nebraska Gaming Commission

A: The Nebraska State Constitution (Article III, Section 24) is the base to determine what forms of gambling are permitted or prohibited. Until 1934 ALL forms of gambling were illegal. At that time the Constitution was amended to permit pari-mutuel horse racing when conducted on.
18 hours ago As for the state, the bills would create a Nebraska Gaming Commission and merge it with the Nebraska Racing Commission. From there, the regulatory agency.
Welcome to the Nebraska State Racing Commission. The Nebraska State Racing Commission principles are to protect, preserve, and promote agriculture and horse racing through effective and efficient effort to prevent and eliminate corrupt practices; insure fairness in decisions affecting licenses and patrons; insure due process in administrative proceedings; be attentive to the public.

Nebraska Gaming Commission. Pickle Card Regulations. General Provisions Nebraska Pickle Card Lottery Act Nebraska Pickle Card Regulations. REG-35-300 SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS. 300.01 Bingo, Lottery, Raffle, and Lottery by Pickle Card Regulations 35-300 through 35-318 are adopted to carry out the provisions of the Nebraska Pickle Card.

Casino games and games of chance were approved by voters on their November 2020 ballot.
The latest bill passed through the General Affairs committee would limit sports betting to racetracks and retail establishments with casino games.
Governor Pete Ricketts has long opposed Nebraska sports betting and gambling expansion in general since taking office.

OMAHA, Neb. – Those hoping for sports betting in Nebraska to be legalized in 2021 may get their wish. However, there’s a catch.

On Monday, the General Affairs Committee combined NB LB 560 and NB LB 561 into one bill and passed it with a 5-1 vote. These bills would effectively legalize games of chance at racetracks in the state. These games would include slots, card games, and arguably legal sports betting.

The bills will now go to the legislature’s floor to be voted on.

New Path For Nebraska Sports Betting

The legislative measures come off the heels of the November 2020 ballot where Nebraska voters voted in favor of having Las Vegas-style games added to their existing racetracks. The tax money generated from this gaming expansion will be used for property tax relief.

The Initiatives passed on the ballot did not specifically mention sports betting. This has left lawmakers to debate whether or not betting on sports in Nebraska would classify as a game of chance or a game of skill.

During the hearing, Nebraska Senator Tom Briese of Albion, sponsor of both bills, argued that sports betting fell under the umbrella of games of chance and that legislators should set parameters over sports betting operated at racetracks.

Senator Justin Wayne of Omaha, who is the sponsor of multiple bills that would legalize online sportsbooks in Nebraska, argued that sports gambling is a game of skill.

It was ultimately Briese’s bill that saw massage through the committee with key details tacked onto his bills.

Details of LB 560 and LSB 561

Under the terms of the bill, those who wish to bet on sports in Nebraska will have to be at the casino area of a licensed racetrack. They will also have to be 21 years old or older to place bets.

Sports bettors would not be allowed to put action on in-state college teams like the Nebraska Cornhuskers or on any athletes that are under the age of 18. Events that include athletes under that age include this year’s upcoming Olympicgames.

People will not be allowed to bet using credit cards and can also request to be banned from casinos.

As for the state, the bills would create a Nebraska Gaming Commission and merge it with the Nebraska Racing Commission. From there, the regulatory agency will be granted authority over the new industry as a means to bypass legislative action in the future.

What It Means For Nebraska

With mobile sportsbooks out of the picture, Nebraska bettors may still be inclined to travel across state lines to place bets.

For example, in Justin Wayne’s district of Omaha (the most populated city in the state), bettors could be within the borders of Iowa in just a few minutes’ drive. Iowa sportsbooks no longer require in-person registration meaning those bettors have plenty of options to choose from.

To the West, Wyoming currently has a bill within their legislature to legalize statewide online sportsbooks. Should that bill come to pass, it could create an incentive for people on that border of the state to use Wyoming sportsbooks rather than those located in Nebraska.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is already firmly opposed to gambling expansion but will have to abide by what voters passed on their 2020 November ballot. Online sports betting may be pushing the boundaries of what was approved.

Because of that, coupled with the Governor’s stance, online sportsbooks will likely have a much longer path to legalization in the Cornhusker State.

News tags: Genera Affairs Committee Justin Wayne LB 560 LB 561 Nebraska Nebraska Gaming Commission Online Sports Betting Pete Rickets Tom Briese

– In his career, Hasan has worked both local and state government positions—including the Attorney General’s Office in Florida. On top of being familiar with the legislative process, he has also been researching and writing on the legality of sports betting across the US. Outside of work you’ll most likely find him producing or playing music, playing sports, or working on creative writing projects. You’ll also catch him at Doak Campbell Stadium cheering on the Noles.

Introduction to Nebraska Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Nebraska slot machine casino gambling consists of 21 gambling centers including commercial businesses, tribal casinos, keno locations in Scotts Bluff County, and racetracks with electronic gaming machines offering video bingo, video keno, and video poker.

No theoretical payout limits exist in Nebraska. However, you can calculate annual return statistics from info in the gaming revenue reports available from the state.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Nebraska*

The minimum legal gambling age in Nebraska depends upon the gambling activity:

Land-Based Casinos: 21
Poker Rooms: 21
Bingo: 18
Lottery: 19
Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 19

The state of gambling in Nebraska is one of the most unusual of any U.S. state. The Nebraska legislature has defined games of chance and gambling very differently from other states, exacerbated by the lack of a gaming commission to establish clear gaming regulations.

The Nebraska legislature states that all forms of gambling are illegal, including games of chance. However, they have been very selective when identifying what is and is not a game of chance. For example, Nebraska law does not define the state lottery, racing, bingo, keno, pickle cards, and more as games of chance.

By their definition, there are no legal forms of gambling per state law. By most other states accepted definitions of gambling, however, gambling does exist. Video keno, video poker, and video bingo are available at nearly two dozen locations around Nebraska.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Nebraska

It is illegal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Nebraska.

Gaming Control Board in Nebraska

Technically, Nebraska does not have a state gaming commission. However, it does have its Charitable Gaming Division (CGD) within the Nebraska Department of Revenue. This is where reports are for gaming revenue.

These Nebraska gaming revenues come from Keno, Pickle Cards, Bingo, and Lottery/Raffle. Total dollars wagered in the last full fiscal year was over $260 million. It’s worth mentioning that 90% of this gaming revenue came from Keno.

The Keno Tip Line at 877-Tip-Keno (877-847-5366) is an excellent example for Nebraska’s need for clear state gaming regulations. With this tip line, the Division asks you to call if you suspect any gaming wrongdoing, including:

A player allowed to bet on credit
Keno workers playing keno while on duty
Minors (under age 19) allowed to play keno
An irregularity in the winning number selection process (ball draw)

The CGD states this tip line is the first step to help them make sure all keno games are fair. Using a tip line to enforce gambling law violations seems less than useful. Why? Because voluntary notification after a violation occurs is not only the first step but also the last step without adequate state gaming regulations to protect keno players and keno players only.

There have been attempts to establish a state gaming commission. In 2004, a proposed state statue to regulate gaming failed with less than 48% of those voting. Measure 420 or, alternatively, the Nebraska Gaming Commission and Casino Regulation Initiative, would have permitted communities to authorize games of chance and the use of gaming devices at casinos, racetracks, and establishments that sell liquor on the premises.

Casinos in Nebraska

There are 21 gambling centers, elsewhere known as casinos, in Nebraska. Of these, four are racetracks, not all with gaming machines, and another five are tribal casinos. The remaining twelve gambling centers are bars, taverns, and other small businesses.

The largest casino in Nebraska is Ohiya Casino & Resort with 410 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Rosebud Casino with 250 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Nebraska

The 16 commercial gambling centers include five county-owned keno locations in Scotts Bluff County, seven small businesses across Nebraska, and four racetracks with electronic gaming machines.

The five keno locations owned by Scotts Bluff County in the towns of Scottsbluff, Mitchell, and Morrill are:

Back of Rack’s Bar & Grill in Scottsbluff located 98 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 19 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
Company Bar and Grill in Mitchell located 96 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 12 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
Main Parlor in Scottsbluff located 98 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 19 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
Redz Bar & Grill in Mitchell located 96 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 12 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
Rustic Tavern in Morrill located 92 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 6 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.

The seven small businesses having electronic gaming machines in Nebraska are:

Brownies Watering Hole Keno in Papillion located 12 miles southwest of Omaha.
Hastings Keno Bar and Grill in Hastings located 27 miles south of Grand Island.
Hop House Bar and Grill in Papillion located 15 miles southwest of Omaha.
Jerzes Sports Bar & Keno in Papillion located 16 miles southwest of Omaha.
Ralston Keno in Ralston located 8 miles southwest of Omaha
Rosebud Casino in Valentine located 140 miles north of North Platte on the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
Winners Lounge and Keno in Omaha.

Nebraska’s four racetracks, only one of which offers electronic gaming machines, are:

Fonner Park in Grand Island with its Fonner Keno Casino and Sports Lounge located 147 miles west of Omaha.
Horseman’s Park in Omaha.
Lincoln Race Track in Lincoln located 67 miles southwest of Omaha.
Platte County AgPark in Columbus located 91 miles west of Omaha.

Gambling Initiatives Nebraska

Tribal Casinos in Nebraska

Nebraska’s five tribal casinos are:

Iron Horse Bar & Casino in Emerson located 24 miles west of Sioux City, South Dakota and 9 miles from the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
Lucky 77 Casino in Walthill located 26 miles south of Sioux City, South Dakota and 9 miles from the Iowa-Nebraska border.
Native Star Casino in Winnebago located 20 miles south of Sioux City, South Dakota and 6 miles from the Iowa-Nebraska border.
Ohiya Casino & Resort in Papillion located 87 miles west of Sioux City, South Dakota and 4 miles from the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
Prairie Flower Casino, an Iowa tribal casino, in Crater Lake located 9 miles north of Omaha on the Nebraska-Iowa border.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Nebraska slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Nebraska is:

North: South Dakota Slots
East: Iowa Slots and Missouri Slots
South: Colorado Slots and Kansas Slots
West: Colorado Slots and Wyoming Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Nebraska.

Our Nebraska Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Nebraska? If so, join our new Nebraska slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Nebraska. Join us!

Payout Returns in Nebraska

No payout return limits are available for electronic gaming machines in Nebraska. Actual gaming statistics for Keno is available for the fiscal year. Annual reporting of gaming revenues show gross earnings and number of licensees by county.

However, annual reports are available at the CGD, where the latest report is from 2019. The report shows gross wagered and prizes paid. With these statistics, we can calculate return statistics for each game. They are:

Bingo (Class I games): 86.1%
Bingo (Class II games): 66.8%
Bingo (Total): 70.9%
Pickle Cards (Class I games): 83.9%
Pickle Cards (Class II games): 68.0%
Pickle Cards (Total): 71.0%
Keno: 76.1%
Lottery/Raffle: 34.6%

The highest return percentage went to Class I bingo games at 86% while the lowest return went to lotteries and raffles at 35%.

Summary of Nebraska Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Nebraska slot machine casino gambling consists of 21 gambling centers mostly offering video keno. Of these, one racetrack has electronic gaming machines. Five centers are tribal casinos. The remainder are small businesses such as bars and taverns.

No limits for payout returns have been legally set. However, annual gaming revenue reports have gross wagers and prizes paid for manual calculation of return statistics.

Annual Progress in Nebraska Slot Machine Casino Gambling