Gambling expansion is a step closer in Nebraska after the state’s highest court by a narrow 4-3 decision Thursday (September 10) paved the way for a three-initiative referendum in November.
A majority of the justices rejected the arguments from Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who had opposed the vote on whether to allow expanded gambling at Nebraska’s commercial racetracks.
Gaming opponents claimed the state could see expanded tribal gaming if the proposal were approved. Evnen further argued that language used in the initiatives was unclear and was not in the correct form.
But after weighing the arguments, the justices said, “We reverse the Secretary of State’s decision.”
Opponents Not Happy with Ruling
“I am certainly not happy about it,” Pat Loontjer, a board member of the anti-gambling expansion group, Gambling With The Good Life, said in an email sent to Casino.org after being asked for her comments. “It was sooooo close.
“We will do what we have done successfully for the past 25 years and that is to use our Grassroots efforts to inform the voters and defeat this thing,” Loontjer pledged. “We are the ‘Good Life State’ and we don’t want to become the ‘Gambling State.’”
She points out the same issue has been proposed twice before “and we beat it both times — once by 65 percent, so here we go. The Indians put up over $2M to get the signatures so you can only imagine what they will put up for the campaign.”
Her email added that “we believe that God is on our side so that is a HUGE advantage.”
Referendum Supporters Thrilled with Decision
But Keep the Money in Nebraska, which supports the gaming expansion vote, supported the justices’ ruling, according to organization spokesman Drew Niehaus.
“We’re thrilled that the 475,000 Nebraskans who signed the petitions get the chance to vote on the initiatives this fall,” Niehaus said. “On a bigger scale, the decision affirms the importance of the referendum process within Nebraska politics.”
Still, Niehaus points out the high court’s 4-3 decision was “close … so it’s clear the Court had dissent. But that’s part of the process, and today the process worked in our favor.”
He said their organization was informed Thursday morning by the office of Secretary of State Evnen “they will be drawing ballot numbers today, following the court’s decision.”
Once we have that information, we’ll be able to inform our voters on how to continue to support the initiatives during the election this fall,” Niehaus said. “Nebraskans have made it very clear that want to keep their money in Nebraska.”
The deadline to determine whether the vote will be placed on the ballot is Friday (September 11), KETV, a local TV station reported. If approved by voters, expanded gambling could be implemented at racetracks in Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, Lincoln, Omaha, and South Sioux City.
Keep the Money in Nebraska claims expanded gambling will lead to 4,600 new jobs and more than $45 million in property tax relief each year. Currently, more than $350 million is spent by Nebraska residents visiting casinos located in nearby states, such as Iowa.
That works out to between $65 and $80 million annually lost in Nebraskan tax revenue, gaming expansion supporters said. Gambling expansion in Nebraska can curb those losses.
Keep the Money in Nebraska is a political committee and partnership between Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
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