The Keep the Money in Nebraska political committee and partnership announced Thursday that enough signatures have been collected to give Nebraskans the chance to vote for casinos to be legal in the state.
Signature collectors gathered more than 475,000 signatures for three ballot initiatives that will legalize, regulate and tax games of chance.
“Nebraskans have been clamoring for property tax relief for many years, and these initiatives will finally provide a real solution rather than political rhetoric,” said Lance Morgan, President and CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc., an entity owned by the Winnebago native American tribe. “To be clear, we're not trying to make Nebraska into Nevada. Nebraskans are already gambling. We're just trying to level the playing field with all of our bordering states and keep Nebraska's money in Nebraska.”
The ballot measures will limit the number of casinos to the six licensed horse racing tracks in the state. The tracks are located at Omaha, Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings and South Sioux City.
The proposed taxes on gaming revenues will bring $65-$80 million into the state, with 70% of that to be specifically allocated for property tax relief. The cities and counties where the tracks are located will receive 25% of the tax revenue. The state general fund and compulsive gambling assistance fund would split the remaining 5%.
With the signed petitions now turned over to the Secretary of State's office, the signatures will be authenticated by the appropriate counties. Ballot numbers will be assigned next month.
“We're confident Nebraskans will vote for the three ballot measures this November,” said Bob Moser, President of the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). “It's a vote for the making the 'good life' even better for our state. It's only fitting that Nebraska's original citizens help lead the charge to revitalize our state's economy and firmly establish this industry.”
Keep the Money in Nebraska is a political committee and partnership between Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. The group supports a series of 2020 ballot measures to expand, tax and regulate casino gaming at licensed horse tracks in Nebraska. More than $350 million is being spent in neighboring states' casinos by Nebraskans every year — that's $65-$80 million in tax revenue Nebraska loses each year. Legalizing casino gaming can help keep that money here in Nebraska.
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