LINCOLN- A trio of initiative measures on the November ballot will determine whether the state finally gets casinos after decades. The vote will be the first time in 15 years that Nebraskans will be able to vote on this measure. If all three are approved, it will allow casinos at horse tracks and would be designate the majority of the tax revenue for property tax credits.

Summaries of the measures read as follows:

"Initiative 429 would amend the Nebraska Constitution to allow casino gambling at licensed horse race tracks. The amendment would create the legal foundation for laws authorizing, regulating and taxing the new gambling.This is the linchpin for the whole effort. If it does not pass, the other two measures would be in vain because the Constitution would continue to limit gambling."

"Initiative 430 is a proposed law. It would authorize casinos at licensed horse race tracks and create a seven-member Nebraska Gaming Commission to oversee and regulate those casinos.It would require a one-time license fee of $1 million for each casino operator and would bar anyone under age 21 from gambling at the casinos. It also would exempt casino operators from paying sales taxes on their purchases."

"Initiative 431 is a proposed law that would impose taxes on the new racetrack casinos and direct where the tax money would go. The annual gambling tax would be 20% of casino revenues, minus certain expenses.The law earmarks 70% of the taxes collected to the Property Tax Credit Fund, 25% to the city or county where the track is, 2.5% to support treatment for compulsive gamblers and 2.5% to the state general fund."

Opponents of these initiatives say gambling would actually cost the state because of social problems it would create and would drain money from local economies. Les Bernal, national director for Stop Predatory Gambling says, “This is taxation by exploiting your neighbor.” Nebraska would get the gaming tax of 20% gross gaming revenue. Most surrounding states levy higher taxes at 21-27%. According to an economic analysis done, the new casinos would provide $45.5 million per year for property tax relief.

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