Future of Nebraska casinos before voters

Scott Bauer

Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Finally, after years of legislative debate, public arguments, lawsuits, and petition drives, the future of casino gambling rests with Nebraska voters.

Whether to open the state's borders to Las Vegas-style casinos will be determined Tuesday.

Or maybe not.

If either of the plans to approve gambling passes it almost certainly will be subject of one or more lawsuits, which could stalemate the process for years.

The gambling debate has been the center of the election year in Nebraska, a state that legalized a state lottery in 1992 but has kept out casinos.

There are two American Indian-run casinos in the state, but they offer only legal bingo-style games and not the table games and full-fledged slot machines that would be OK'd under the two ballot measures.

The Legislature's plan, Amendment 3, was put on the ballot after years of debate that up until this spring ended in stalemate. The plan would allow two casinos to locate in Nebraska, with details such as where and how the revenues would be distributed to be worked out later.

Most expect at least one to be in downtown Omaha.

The Legislature's plan is supported by the Venetian Casino in Las Vegas.

The alternate, appearing on the ballot as Initiatives 417-420, is the result of a petition drive organized by a coalition that includes Coast Casinos of Las Vegas, Nebraska's horse racing industry, keno operators and local communities.

Its four-part plan would legalize two casinos in Omaha, with 4,900 video poker and slot machines at locations across the state including keno parlors and race tracks.

If either or both plans pass, the state's four American Indian tribes could then enter into a compact with the state to open casinos on their reservation land.

So much has been said about the gambling issue for years that voters will be informed when they vote on Nov. 2, said Pat Loontjer, director of the anti-gambling group Gambling with the Good Life.

"We really believe Nebraskans are going to vote to preserve the constitution," she said. "We've got enough Nebraskans saying this is going to hurt our families and our way of life."

Opponents of expanded gambling argue that casinos will bring a host of problems to Nebraska, both economic and social, and voters would be wise to keep the borders shut.

High-profile personalities, including billionaire investor Warren Buffett and former Nebraska football coach U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne have spoken out against casinos.

But proponents say the time has come to open the state's borders to slot machines, especially since many Nebraskans already are gambling in Iowa and other border states.

"We have the social cost, but we don't have the revenue to address it," said state Sen. Pam Brown, who supports Amendment 3.

Julia Plucker, spokeswoman for the Keep the Money in Nebraska coalition that backs the initiatives, said its plan is the best because it allows communities across the state to benefit.

"Every community gets local control over whether they want gambling, where they want it and how they spend the revenues," Plucker said. "If you vote yes, you're guaranteed that something will happen. It does not have to go back to the state Legislature."

Should Amendment 3 pass, it would be up to the Legislature to determine later where the casinos would be located and how they would be regulated.