Nebraska State Senator Justin Wayne calls it the Games of Skill Act, and if signed into law, it would legalize sports betting, daily fantasy sports and online poker.
The bill does not mention the internet, but the intent is to include online gaming, as Nebraska has limited bricks-and-mortar gambling. Outside the lottery and a handful of tribal casinos, the state only allows bingo regulated by the Charitable Gaming Division, the same organization that would oversee games of skill.
Wayne’s office cautioned that the proposed legislation hasn’t even had its first reading, and so has plenty of opportunities to be amended. It has yet to be scheduled for consideration before the General Affairs Committee.
While poker does have a random component, there’s more skill than chance necessary for success in a game where strategic decisions influence the outcome.
The bill defines skill-based “draw poker” games like five-card draw and “community card” games like Texas Hold ‘em and Omaha. The language seems to exclude stud games, however, which are plainly skill-based but do not fall cleanly into either category.
There doesn’t appear to be any limitation on how many operators the state could allow or a clause to preclude some operators, according to OnlinePokerReport.com.
The cost of business is also favorable. Registrants would pay a $10,000 application fee and a 6 percent tax on revenue, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually.
