NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS HAVE ADVANCED PROVISIONS RELATED TO CASINO GAMING AT LICENSED RACETRACKS IN THE STATE.
THE STATE RACING COMMISSION HAS BEEN RENAMED THE NEBRASKA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION AND GRANTED AUTHORITY TO REGULATE GAMES OF CHANCE.
THE LEGAL AGE FOR WAGERING ON HORSE RACING IS RAISED FROM 19 TO 21, AND A PROCESS TO ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE EXCLUDED VOLUNTARILY FROM WAGERING WAS ESTABLISHED.
MANIPULATION OF A GAME OF CHANCE OR GAMING MACHINE WOULD BECOME A CLASS I MISDEMEANOR.
AN AMENDMENT PASSED 31-10, WOULD AUTHORIZE SPORTS WAGERING AT NEBRASKA RACETRACKS.
LEGAL WAGERS COULD BE PLACED ON PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGIATE AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTS BUT NOT ON INTERSCHOLASTIC, YOUTH OR FANTASY SPORTS.
WAGERS ON THE PERFORMANCE OR NONPERFORMANCE OF AN INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE IN A COLLEGIATE SPORTING EVENT INVOLVING A NEBRASKA TEAM ALSO WOULD BE EXCLUDED.
THURSTON SENATOR JONI ALBRECHT OPPOSED THE PROPOSAL, SAYING THAT BACKERS OF THE GAMING INITIATIVES SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT SPORTS WAGERING WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN AUTHORIZED CASINOS.
AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DEBATE, THE BILL ADVANCED TO SELECT FILE ON A VOTE OF 37-5.
