Nebraska Gov. Ricketts Approves Casino Regulations but Licensing on Hold
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed turned the state’s casino regulations on Wednesday, paving the way for licensing applications for the new market.
But prospective operators will have got to waiting a few more weeks before they put forward those applications piece the gaming regulator gets its ducks inwards order, reports The Abraham Lincoln Journal Star.
The Cornhusker State Racing and Gaming Commission has in time to hold a fee bodily structure for the applications. That won’t follow resolved at least until its next group meeting on June 2.
Commission manager Tom Sage told the Star Midweek that licensing will and so submit 30 to 60 years to process, before going to a direction schedule for net favourable reception (or not).
Only then – too soon fall, or later summertime if they’re lucky — testament Nebraska’s prospective operators be able to start construction work on their casino proposals.
Keeping it in Nebraska
A intelligent 64.9% of Nebraska voters sanctioned gambling casino gaming for the state’s racetracks at the Nov 2020 ballot. The ballot initiative was backed past Ho-Chunk Inc., the economical developing fortify of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and the state’s Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA).
Nebraska’s racetracks make been on a calm glide since IA legalized casino gaming inwards 1989. The ballot crusade citizens committee appealed to Nebraskans’ state superbia — and to their wallets.
Calling itself “Keep the Money inward Nebraska,” it warned that an estimated 400 million hard-earned Cornhusker State dollars were leaking into IA casinos apiece year. The radical claimed egalizing gambling casino gambling would supercharge body politic coffers past betwixt $60 jillion and $120 zillion per year
It will also considerably advance the coffers of Ho-Chunk Inc., and the NHBPA. The two entities have partnered upwards to build casinos under the firebrand “WarHorse” inward Lincoln, Omaha, advertising South Siouan City.
Temporary Casinos
Other projects include a $220 million redevelopment of capital of Nebraska Race Course, with a 196-room hotel tower, case space, plu. It’s expected to have 18-24 months to complete, but the rails plans to surface a temporary casino base patch the main cassino is existence built.
Fonner Park inward Grand Island is also preparation a temporary casino spell it redevelops its operations, and Caesars Entertainment plans to build a bran-new Harrah’s Casino and racetrack inward Columbus.
The Chickasaw Carry Amelia Moore Nation also wants to establish a unexampled gambling casino and gymnastic horse data track inwards Hastings, but the tribe is currently scouting for a location.
Several other operators are eager, but their proposals won’t be considered until the Racing and Gaming Commission completes a socioeconomic impact hit the books of new tracks and casinos, as ordered by the legislature.