Harmful Gambling
Nebraska
September 2024 marks two years since Nebraska opened its first casino and almost four years since voters agreed to legalize gambling.
“We’re really excited,” said Lynn McNally, CEO of the Nebraska Horsemen. “We’re getting a lot of customers through the door.”
She said Nov. 3, 2020, is a date etched in her brain. It’s when Nebraska voters overwhelmingly voted for casino gaming with 65% approval.
“It took longer than any of us wanted, but we’re rolling now and only going up from here,” she said.
Part of the deal includes 20% of casino revenue going back to Nebraska taxpayers. Here’s how that 20% breaks down:
- Property Tax Relief: 70%
- Counties: 12.5%
- Cities: 12.5%
- State General Fund: 2.5%
- Compulsive Gambler’s Fund: 2.5%
The Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling started its direction of the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program in 2013.
Right now, it’s a one-man department run by director David Geier.
“I’m just a bureaucrat, but I like it,” Geier said.
Geier is also a diligent data collector.
“We’ve had about a 40% increase in the number of individuals seeking help,” he said, comparing 2024 to 2022.
Nebraska statutes require the state to pay for that help.
“If government is going to get money from people for engaging in this activity, government should also be ready to help because everybody knows people will get in trouble,” Geier said.