LINCOLN- The Legislature gave 37-5 first-round approval Wednesday to a bill implementing the voter-mandated launch of casino gambling in Nebraska while also authorizing electronic on-site keno betting and sports betting at casino sites. The legislation (LB561) heralds the advent of casino gambling in Nebraska at licensed horse tracks, a sea-change societal event that is estimated to generate an eye-popping $455 million of gambling activity by fiscal 2022-23.

Nearly $64 million of the resulting $91 million in revenue that year would be dedicated to property tax relief. Under terms of the initiative, which was overwhelmingly approved by Nebraska voters last November, 70% of the revenue generated by a 20% tax on casino gambling will be funneled into property tax relief. Casino gambling will be authorized at six existing race tracks

Wednesday's lengthy debate displayed considerable personal senatorial opposition to expanded gambling coupled with recognition of a legislative responsibility to implement the will of the voters. "I'm not a fan of expanded gambling, but the people spoke in November," Sen. John Lowe of Kearney said, while also proposing that legislators should "wait until next year and get it right" in defining the terms of legislative implementation. One significant issue that Speaker Hilgers noted was that the rules and regulations to implement the casino gaming would bypass the Nebraska Administrative Procedures Act - something he is very concerned about and wanted to make sure that issue is addressed before Select File consideration of the package.

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