Charitable gambling declines

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Charitable-gambling revenue in Nebraska dropped 3.1 percent for the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state Department of Revenue reported Wednesday.

Revenue has steadily dropped since the high in 1994 for the industry that includes keno, bingo, pickle cards and local lotteries and raffles.

The total amount wagered for the year was $251.8 million, which is down from $259.9 million the previous year.

Compared with 1994 totals, pickle card wagering was down 71 percent, bingo 42 percent and keno more than 11 percent.

All charitable gambling in Nebraska has experienced a 38 percent loss in revenue since its peak of $408 million in 1994, just before video and casino gambling were introduced across the Missouri River from Omaha in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and expanded into neighboring Missouri, South Dakota, Colorado and Kansas.

Attempts to expand casino-style gambling have failed in Nebraska, including ballot measures that were voted down last November.

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