Nebraska gambling enthusiasts would have to make do with only six casinos at existing horse racing tracks, at least initially, under a bill advanced Tuesday to debate by the full Legislature.
Legislative Bill 876 was advanced by the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee on a 7-0 vote, with one member not voting, after weeks of wrangling over several issues, including how many casinos to allow, given voter approval of expanded gambling in November.
Among the issues: Should there be restrictions on new casinos being within 50 miles, or 150 miles, of an existing racetrack, and should there be a moratorium on “racinos,” a combination racetrack and casino? Or should several new casinos be allowed?
Proponents of locating new racinos in Bellevue, Norfolk, North Platte, Gering and Ogallala would be required to do an extensive study to answer several questions, including whether new locations would help or hurt the existing casinos and whether they would help or hurt the horse racing industry.
“We have left the door open to the (new) proposals that early proposals would have shut down,” Senator Tom Briese says. Briese says it would be up to the State Racing Commission to decide whether new racinos should be added. Under LB 876, the commission would have to conduct a “statewide market analysis” on horse racing and complete its work “as soon as practicable” but not later than Jan. 1, 2025.
The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce had called for no limit on the number of racinos allowed. State horse racing officials, meanwhile, had recommended that casinos be allowed only existing racetracks in Omaha, Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Island, South Sioux City and Hastings.
(Source: Nebraska Examiner)