A final draft of Nebraska casino regulations is set to be released November 12—a year after voters approved casino gambling at the state’s horseracing tracks.
Tom Sage, executive director of the Nebraska Racing & Gaming Commission, said, “I’m very, very pleased with where we’re at with the rules.”
Sage said commissioners have been working on the rules since receiving a consultant’s report in early September. He said comments from the public and the gaming industry have been incorporated into the draft regulations.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed rules on December 17. Commission Chairman Dennis Lee called the timing of that meeting “very critical.” That’s because, if the board approves the proposed rules, Governor Pete Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson would have to sign off on them, then forward them to the Secretary of State’s office for official recognition. In other words, tracks could not apply for casino gambling licenses before early next year.
All six existing horseracing tracks in the state have announced plans to build casinos. Bellevue, Gering, Kimball, Norfolk, North Platte and York also are expected to apply for gaming licenses. In addition, Ho-Chunk has proposed a $220 million WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, with more than 1,200 gaming stations, a 196-room hotel, event space, several restaurants, a spa and other amenities.
The commission also approved dates for live horseracing at the state’s existing tracks in 2022. Fonner Park will run 37 days of racing between February 19 and May 22; Columbus Exposition and Racing will run 12 days between May 27 and June 5. Atokad in South Sioux City plans two days, and Lincoln Race Course, Horsemen’s Park in Omaha and Fairplay Park in Hastings all plan one day; race dates at those four tracks have yet to be scheduled.
Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association Executive Vice President Lynne McNally said Lincoln and Omaha probably will hold their single race days early in the year, since they don’t know how casino construction schedules will affect the tracks at those facilities.
Under Nebraska law, horse racetracks must host at least one day of live racing a year in order to host simulcasting, which is offered by all the tracks except South Sioux City.
