The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission’s (NRGC) regulatory duties expanded greatly after the November 2020 election when state voters passed a ballot referendum that amended the Nebraska Constitution to allow commercial casino gambling at the state’s six licensed horse racetracks.
The NRGC has accordingly increased the number of commissioners from three to seven. But its staff still numbers under 20 employees, although it has begun receiving funding through the $1 million casino licensing fee. As a result, NRGC Executive Director Tom Sage said the agency still is struggling to hire more staff to regulate the fast-growing industry.
Sage told Casino.org, “We still have many, many people to hire. I believe when we’re ramped up to full casinos, I believe we’re going to need somewhere in the range of 50 to 60 staff. Many people thought we would bring a machine in and plug it in and we’d be ready to go. You just can’t turn on the light switch. It’s very complicated. Currently, we have around 18 employees. That’s not near enough.”
The 2020 referendum allowed Las Vegas-style casinos at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha, Lincoln Race Course, Agricultural Park in Columbus, Fonner Park in Grand Isle, FairPlay Park in Hastings and the shuttered Atokad Downs in South Sioux City−the only venue that is not redeveloping its racetrack become a casino.
The first permanent casino is expected to open next year. Meanwhile, temporary facilities have opened at WarHorse Casino Lincoln and at Grand Island Casino at Fonner Park. A third temporary venue, Caesars Entertainment’s Harrah’s Nebraska is set to open June 12 at Ag Park. The three temporary casinos will offer a total of more than 1,000 slot machines.
Harrah’s Nebraska General Manager Don Osert said he admires the accomplishments of state’s gaming regulators, despite being short-staffed and new to the industry. “The word integrity is very important to us in the casino business. It’s been very similar to the other states that I’ve been in,” Osert told Casino.org.
