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No Slots At Nebraska Racetrack

A bill that would have installed slot machines at the Nebraska Thoroughbred racetracks is dead in the water – for this year, at least. News came from Lincoln today that a gambling measure put forward by State Senator Russ Karpisek failed to advance from the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee after a vote of three to four. Any measure put through the GAC requires at least five positive votes to advance to the full Legislative floor for consideration. Karpisek expressed disappointment over the failure of his proposal, commenting: “[Members of the Committee] don’t want gambling, I guess.”

The senator had pushed the issue of slot machines because he believes that revenue from the gambling devices could fill major gaps in the state budget. Like many other states, Nebraska is currently facing a deficit brought on by the national recession. Specifically, their fund for building and improving roadways is ailing seriously. This year, several U.S. states are considering slot games as potential budget saviors although the machines remain controversial.

The installation of slot games at the racetracks would have served a twofold purpose. Karpisek was also hoping that the introduction of slot machines would bring more people to state racetracks and boost sagging attendance rates and betting leading to weak purses. Some experts have estimated that Nebraska’s racetracks have less than two years of life left in the current economic climate. Slot games at up to seven racetracks would have been authorized by Karpisek’s bill; Nebraska currently has five – Columbus, Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha, and South Sioux City.

Back to March 2009 Archive.