LINCOLN - A political heavyweight, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, is weighing in on the sticky issue of how many gambling casinos should be allowed in the state.

In a 23-8 vote, the Nebraska Chamber’s board of directors voted Thursday to oppose any effort by state legislators to limit the number of casinos by geography.

Typically, the organization stays out of gambling issues. This vote specifically concerned the geographic restrictions on casino locations and whether or not to limit the number to the state's six horse racing tracks, however.

Nebraska voters approved casino gambling in November 2020 which opened the door for potentially five new locations: Bellevue, Gering, Norfolk, North Platte, and York.

A bill currently under consideration would require any new casino that does not accompany a racetrack to be at least 50 miles from an existing racetrack. If passed, it would bar new casinos in Bellevue, Norfolk, and York because of their proximity to existing tracks.

One proposed amendment would change the distance to 75 miles, excluding the state's three largest counties: Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy.

Dirk Petersen of Norfolk, a former president of the Nebraska Chamber, said now that casinos are legal, they should have the same free enterprise rights as any other business.

“I think it’s an overreach of government when they try to dictate where private businesses should be located,” said Petersen, a retired executive of Nucor, the huge steel mill outside Norfolk.

Opponents of expanded gambling see it differently. Pat Loontjer of Gambling with the Good Life supports limiting the state to six casinos.

“Let’s wait a couple of years, see how it impacts those communities and family and taxes,” she said, “and then see if we want to inundate the state with casinos.”

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