Nebraska citizens vote to allow for casino gaming

According to unofficial results as of Tuesday night, initiatives 429, 430, and 431 have all passed to bring casino gambling to Nebraska with more than 60% of the vote.

Initiative 429 has a lot of interest, bringing table games such as Blackjack, Slots, and more to Nebraska race tracks, the Associated Press reports. If approved, it would amend the state Constitution to state that laws may be enacted to provide for the authorization, regulation, and taxation of all forms of games of chance to be conducted by licensees within licensed racetrack enclosures in Nebraska.

As for 430, it would allow games of chance to be conducted at racetracks in Nebraska and establish a Nebraska Gaming Commission to license and regulate such gaming.

And 431 imposes a 20% annual tax on gross gaming revenue from games of chance operated at licensed racetrack locations and distributes 75% of such gaming tax revenues to the state for credit of 2.5% to both the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund and General Fund and 70% to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. It also distributes 25% of such gaming tax revenues to the county where the licensed racetrack is located, or if the racetrack is located partially within a city or village, distributes this percentage evenly between the county and city or village.

Voters, according to statewide preliminary results, approved the initiatives:

429

For — 359,933 — 64.75%

Against —195,920 — 35.25%

430

For — 360,132 — 64.53%

Against — 197,957 — 35.47%

431

For — 381,654 — 68.78%

Against —173,257 — 31.22%

Chris Kotulak, chief executive officer for Fonner Park, said he is pleased with the results: "The majority has spoken in Nebraska. I want to thank the Ho-Chunk tribe and the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association for leading the charge in these three casino initiatives."

"I am especially thrilled for the Nebraska thoroughbred racing industry because this will result in saving their industry and become a significant boost for Nebraska agriculture. The breeding of thoroughbred racehorses and the demand for farmers to produce product for the racehorses will generate a revitalized ag economy in the state."

Kotulak said that while the approval of the three initiatives Tuesday was “big” for Fonner Park, it is just as big, if not bigger, for Grand Island and central Nebraska due to the amount of jobs it will bring to Grand Island.

"The casino alone will call for dealers — people to be at the table games — slot attendants and hosts," Kotulak told The Independent last week. “Then, there are the food and beverage employees that we would need. There is the hospitality and house cleaning, the surveillance and security all within the casino itself. Then, should there be a hotel that would be built, then we would need all of the staffing required for that."

Kotulak said that despite voters approving the three gambling initiatives, a casino will not be coming to Fonner Park anytime soon. He said that with the passage of Initiative 430, the gaming commission would need to approve codes and ordinances for casino gaming in Nebraska prior to one opening there.

"There won’t be a casino at Fonner Park next weekend, next month or next year,” Kotulak said. “There is quite a bit of protocols and regulations and things that need to be put in place before any casino can start."