Voting to expand gambling in Nebraska

An initiative has been filed that would allow voters to decide whether to expand gambling at horse race tracks in 2020. 

First, they have to gather more than 120,000 signatures. 

Ho-Chunk, an economic development group owned by the Winnebago tribe and the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent Protection Agency are partnering to bring this issue to the ballot. 

“Under this constitutional statute change, 20% of all the gaming generated, there would be a tax of 20% and that would be going to the state and the county… a large percent of that will go towards property tax relief, and we desperately need property tax relief on real estate in the state of Nebraska,” Barry Lake, president of Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent Protection Agency, said. 

Nebraskans spend about $500 million on gambling in surrounding states. “Keep the Money in Nebraska” campaign thinks it’s insane Nebraskans spend so much in other states that we could be keeping at home. 

According to petition sponsors, with the expansion in gaming, the state would make an extra $50 million in tax revenue to help fund property tax relief, public schools and the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Fund. 

“We think that this is an opportunity for us to grow in Nebraska and contribute to Nebraska’s economy, and we want to do that,” Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk, said. 

Something like this has been on the ballot in Nebraska before, but the petition didn’t get enough signatures. 

They said this time there is simpler language on the ballot and fewer questions.