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March 10, 2003
Casino gaming in Nebraska moves one step closer
By NANCY NEUROHRState lawmakers in Nebraska voted 25-19 last week to give first-round approval towards a proposal that would legalize casinos in the state. LR 11CA barely made it through the first round. Twenty-five votes were needed for the bill to advance but it will take thirty votes for it to be placed on the ballot in the 2004 election.
The amended version of LR 11CA will allow up to eight casinos to operate in the state. The locations of the casinos or how the money generated from them will be used has not been determined. The state's four Indian tribes would also be allowed to establish casinos. Those would not be counted as among the eight state-licensed facilities.
Two Las Vegas casino companies have shown interest in building upscale casinos in Omaha. Both have had representatives lobbying for expanded gambling in Nebraska during the Legislative session.
Representatives for the Las Vegas based Venetian say they are committed to building along the riverfront near the new convention center. They are considering a phased expansion into the Omaha market if casino gambling is legalized. The first phase would limit the number of hotel rooms and restaurants until the tourism market in Omaha justifies additions. They feel they can enhance the attractions along the riverfront by building a casino in this area.
Coast Casinos, who currently operates four casinos in Las Vegas and one in New Orleans, has said they may be looking at sites other than on the riverfront. They would like to build in an area more centralized to the population base and closer to the interstate. Although they admit they have a lot more research to do, Coast Casinos would likely build a facility with a hotel, restaurants and other amenities.
William Eadington, director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gambling at the University of Nevada at Reno, said a resort-casino in the Omaha area could expand the attractiveness of the city to business travelers and convention goers.
Senator Ray Janssen of Nickerson, who sponsored LR 11CA, is urging lawmakers to listen to their constituents and give them a chance to vote on expanded gambling.