Expanded gambling was one of the main topics at Nebraska lawmakers’ recent Legislative Kickoff event. In the November election, voters approved a ballot measure that would allow casino gambling in the state.
State Senator Ray Aguilar said, “It looks like I may have a great opportunity for a priority bill right off the bat.” He added casino gambling revenue “is the easiest form of property tax relief that we can do and the most instant and gratifying one. Hopefully, the sooner the better that we get something built and make sure that Grand Island is in the position to take advantage of that.”
Aguilar represents most of Grand Island, the location of Fonner Park, home of the Nebraska State Fair and Heartland Events Center. A portion of lottery revenue funds the state fair. Aguilar stated he’s had discussions with Fonner Park officials about the venue becoming a racino. Several issues still need to be addressed, he noted.
State Senator Curt Friesen estimated expanded gambling could generate up to $80 million annually. He said 70 percent of gambling tax revenue would go toward property tax relief. “It all depends on where the casinos get built, how many get built and the population they can attract to bring those dollars back to Nebraska. But I don’t see any revenue coming in for at least a year and a half to two years at the soonest,” Friesen said.
State Senator Steve Halloran expressed concern that expanded gambling will lead to social costs. “It is just a matter of fact. The revenue generated will be offset in spending from the Appropriations Committee in increased social costs from excessive gambling on the part of people who really can’t afford to gamble.” Halloran said, according to a Baylor University study, those social costs include crime, business and employment, bankruptcy, suicide, illness related to pathological gambling, social services, direct regulation, families and abuse.
State Senator John Lowe commented, “With gambling, it seems that it also coincides with human trafficking. We need to be very vigilant as we develop these sites to make sure that we are looking out for everybody that might be involved.”
Lowe pointed out most of the ads promoting expanded gambling during the election were paid for by Indian tribes. “They are corporations and yet they said they had nothing to do with the Indian reservations getting into gambling. We will see how many casinos are developed across the state and I am sure that lawsuits will be forthcoming,” Lowe said.
