Nebraska Gaming Commission

Welcome to the Nebraska State Racing Commission. The Nebraska State Racing Commission principles are to protect, preserve, and promote agriculture and horse racing through effective and efficient effort to prevent and eliminate corrupt practices; insure fairness in decisions affecting licenses and patrons; insure due process in administrative proceedings; be attentive to the public. Nebraska Gaming Commission. Pickle Card Regulations. General Provisions Nebraska Pickle Card Lottery Act Nebraska Pickle Card Regulations. REG-35-300 SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS. 300.01 Bingo, Lottery, Raffle, and Lottery by Pickle Card Regulations 35-300 through 35-318 are adopted to carry out the provisions of the Nebraska Pickle Card. Get your Nebraska Racing Commission License Application Form If you are applying to the Nebraska Racing Commission for the first time; or, if the Commission does not have a current digitized photo, you will need to stop by our licensing office when you come to the track to get a license badge that will allow you access to restricted areas. Nebraska Gaming Commission. What constitutes a gambling device in the State of Nebraska? According to Nebraska law, a 'person engages in gambling if he or she bets something of value upon the outcome of a future event, which outcome is determined by an element of chance.' Therefore, if the outcome of a game is determined preponderantly. The Nebraska Athletic Commission regulates professional boxing and amateur and professional mixed martial arts (MMA). Originally created by the Nebraska Legislature to regulate the sport of boxing, the Commission began regulating amateur and professional MMA with the passage of LB 471 in 2007. On average, the commission regulates about 25 events per year throughout the state.

Licenses, Authorizations, Permits, MAD and Pickle Card Dispensing Device Decals, Tax Returns & Forms; and County/City Lottery Licensing

Bingo & Pickle Card Manufacturer & Distributor Licensing and Regulations

Cash Device Applications/Decals, Conduct & Regulations

County/City Lottery Manufacturer-Distributor Equipment Installations

Introduction to Nebraska Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Nebraska slot machine casino gambling consists of 21 gambling centers including commercial businesses, tribal casinos, keno locations in Scotts Bluff County, and racetracks with electronic gaming machines offering video bingo, video keno, and video poker.

No theoretical payout limits exist in Nebraska. However, you can calculate annual return statistics from info in the gaming revenue reports available from the state.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Nebraska*

Nebraska Gambling Laws

The minimum legal gambling age in Nebraska depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 21
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: 19
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 19

The state of gambling in Nebraska is one of the most unusual of any U.S. state. The Nebraska legislature has defined games of chance and gambling very differently from other states, exacerbated by the lack of a gaming commission to establish clear gaming regulations.

The Nebraska legislature states that all forms of gambling are illegal, including games of chance. However, they have been very selective when identifying what is and is not a game of chance. For example, Nebraska law does not define the state lottery, racing, bingo, keno, pickle cards, and more as games of chance.

By their definition, there are no legal forms of gambling per state law. By most other states accepted definitions of gambling, however, gambling does exist. Video keno, video poker, and video bingo are available at nearly two dozen locations around Nebraska.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Nebraska

It is illegal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Nebraska.

Gaming Control Board in Nebraska

Technically, Nebraska does not have a state gaming commission. However, it does have its Charitable Gaming Division (CGD) within the Nebraska Department of Revenue. This is where reports are for gaming revenue.

These Nebraska gaming revenues come from Keno, Pickle Cards, Bingo, and Lottery/Raffle. Total dollars wagered in the last full fiscal year was over $260 million. It’s worth mentioning that 90% of this gaming revenue came from Keno.

The Keno Tip Line at 877-Tip-Keno (877-847-5366) is an excellent example for Nebraska’s need for clear state gaming regulations. With this tip line, the Division asks you to call if you suspect any gaming wrongdoing, including:

1. A player allowed to bet on credit
2. Keno workers playing keno while on duty
3. Minors (under age 19) allowed to play keno
4. An irregularity in the winning number selection process (ball draw)

The CGD states this tip line is the first step to help them make sure all keno games are fair. Using a tip line to enforce gambling law violations seems less than useful. Why? Because voluntary notification after a violation occurs is not only the first step but also the last step without adequate state gaming regulations to protect keno players and keno players only.

There have been attempts to establish a state gaming commission. In 2004, a proposed state statue to regulate gaming failed with less than 48% of those voting. Measure 420 or, alternatively, the Nebraska Gaming Commission and Casino Regulation Initiative, would have permitted communities to authorize games of chance and the use of gaming devices at casinos, racetracks, and establishments that sell liquor on the premises.

Casinos in Nebraska

There are 21 gambling centers, elsewhere known as casinos, in Nebraska. Of these, four are racetracks, not all with gaming machines, and another five are tribal casinos. The remaining twelve gambling centers are bars, taverns, and other small businesses.

The largest casino in Nebraska is Ohiya Casino & Resort with 410 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Rosebud Casino with 250 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Nebraska

The 16 commercial gambling centers include five county-owned keno locations in Scotts Bluff County, seven small businesses across Nebraska, and four racetracks with electronic gaming machines.

The five keno locations owned by Scotts Bluff County in the towns of Scottsbluff, Mitchell, and Morrill are:

1. Back of Rack’s Bar & Grill in Scottsbluff located 98 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 19 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
2. Company Bar and Grill in Mitchell located 96 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 12 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
3. Main Parlor in Scottsbluff located 98 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 19 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
4. Redz Bar & Grill in Mitchell located 96 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 12 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.
5. Rustic Tavern in Morrill located 92 miles northeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming and 6 miles from the Wyoming-Nebraska border.

The seven small businesses having electronic gaming machines in Nebraska are:

1. Brownies Watering Hole Keno in Papillion located 12 miles southwest of Omaha.
2. Hastings Keno Bar and Grill in Hastings located 27 miles south of Grand Island.
3. Hop House Bar and Grill in Papillion located 15 miles southwest of Omaha.
4. Jerzes Sports Bar & Keno in Papillion located 16 miles southwest of Omaha.
5. Ralston Keno in Ralston located 8 miles southwest of Omaha
6. Rosebud Casino in Valentine located 140 miles north of North Platte on the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
7. Winners Lounge and Keno in Omaha.

Nebraska’s four racetracks, only one of which offers electronic gaming machines, are:

1. Fonner Park in Grand Island with its Fonner Keno Casino and Sports Lounge located 147 miles west of Omaha.
2. Horseman’s Park in Omaha.
3. Lincoln Race Track in Lincoln located 67 miles southwest of Omaha.
4. Platte County AgPark in Columbus located 91 miles west of Omaha.

Tribal Casinos in Nebraska

Nebraska’s five tribal casinos are:

1. Iron Horse Bar & Casino in Emerson located 24 miles west of Sioux City, South Dakota and 9 miles from the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
2. Lucky 77 Casino in Walthill located 26 miles south of Sioux City, South Dakota and 9 miles from the Iowa-Nebraska border.
3. Native Star Casino in Winnebago located 20 miles south of Sioux City, South Dakota and 6 miles from the Iowa-Nebraska border.
4. Ohiya Casino & Resort in Papillion located 87 miles west of Sioux City, South Dakota and 4 miles from the South Dakota-Nebraska border.
5. Prairie Flower Casino, an Iowa tribal casino, in Crater Lake located 9 miles north of Omaha on the Nebraska-Iowa border.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Nebraska slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Nebraska is:

• North: South Dakota Slots
• East: Iowa Slots and Missouri Slots
• South: Colorado Slots and Kansas Slots
• West: Colorado Slots and Wyoming Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Nebraska.

Our Nebraska Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Nebraska? If so, join our new Nebraska slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Nebraska. Join us!

Payout Returns in Nebraska

No payout return limits are available for electronic gaming machines in Nebraska. Actual gaming statistics for Keno is available for the fiscal year. Annual reporting of gaming revenues show gross earnings and number of licensees by county.

However, annual reports are available at the CGD, where the latest report is from 2019. The report shows gross wagered and prizes paid. With these statistics, we can calculate return statistics for each game. They are:

• Bingo (Class I games): 86.1%
• Bingo (Class II games): 66.8%
• Bingo (Total): 70.9%
• Pickle Cards (Class I games): 83.9%
• Pickle Cards (Class II games): 68.0%
• Pickle Cards (Total): 71.0%
• Keno: 76.1%
• Lottery/Raffle: 34.6%

The highest return percentage went to Class I bingo games at 86% while the lowest return went to lotteries and raffles at 35%.

Summary of Nebraska Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Nebraska slot machine casino gambling consists of 21 gambling centers mostly offering video keno. Of these, one racetrack has electronic gaming machines. Five centers are tribal casinos. The remainder are small businesses such as bars and taverns.

No limits for payout returns have been legally set. However, annual gaming revenue reports have gross wagers and prizes paid for manual calculation of return statistics.

Annual Progress in Nebraska Slot Machine Casino Gambling

In the last year, there has been little change to the slots gaming industry in Nebraska.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

Gambling Initiatives Nebraska

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Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC