Nebraska Governor Signs Commerical Gambling Bill Into Law
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed a commercial casino gambling bill into law this week. The measure allows retail sports betting at pari-mutuel race tracks and casino style gaming at the venues.
The gambling bill LB561 was signed into law by the governor this week. It is expected that the state will see as much as $445 million in new gambling spending by 2022-23 fiscal year. WarHorse Gaming will create a large casino in Lincoln. Additional casino gaming will be launched in Nebraska via tracks located in Hastings, Grand Island, Omaha, Columbus and South Sioux City. Nebraska residents bet at casinos located elsewhere and spend around $500 million. In Council Bluffs, Iowa, it is not uncommon to see cars with Nebraska license plates taking part in gaming at the local casino.
Nebraska is one of the conservative states changing its stance on gambling. Many states are looking for new ways to bring in new revenues. Alabama had potential to change its conservative gambling industry this year, but the efforts failed. Next year there could be a larger effort as lawmakers in states like Alabama regroup and figure out the best path forward.