Nebraska bill to restrict new racinos advances; temporary casino in Grand Island might open by October
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Legislative Bill 876 would restrict new casinos and racinos to the six counties with licensed horse racing tracks. It would put off consideration of new proposals until socio-economic impact and statewide market conditions studies are finished. New casinos have been proposed for North Platte, Ogallala, Gering, Kimball, Bellevue, York and Norfolk since November 2020. The bill strikes a balance between developers and communities seeking to build new casino and gambling opponents who worry about market saturation. The final passage of LB 8 76 could put the issue off until 2025.
The temporary casino at Fonner Park might open as early as this fall. The permanent facility will be launched after this year's Nebraska State Fair. It will have more than 600 slot machines and a restaurant and bar area. The company would like to have it up and running by 2025. Only the proposal for Hastings’ Adams County Fairgrounds was voted down in a City Council meeting.
