Boom in Nebraska's Commercial Casinos 🎰💰
Nebraska's casinos generated a revenue of $21.1 million during the month of April.
In a striking turn of events, Nebraska's four commercial casinos raked in a whopping $21.1 million in April, a significant leap from the mere $8.2 million reported the previous year when only one casino was fully operational.
This revelation came from the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, who further broke down the revenue sources. Electronic gaming devices accounted for an impressive $18.1 million, while electronic table games and table games chipped in $429,943 and $2 million, respectively. Retail sportsbooks contributed $496,207 to the total.
Each of the four casinos - WarHorse Casino Lincoln, Grand Island Casino & Resort, Harrah's Columbus, and WarHorse Casino Omaha - experienced year-over-year growth. WarHorse Casino Omaha and Harrah's Columbus, despite being partially operational in April 2024, saw the most significant jumps, reporting a astounding increase from $40,117 to $6.8 million and $1,551 to $2.3 million, respectively.
Grand Island and WarHorse Casino Lincoln also enjoyed growth, rising from $3.4 million to $5.4 million (59.1% increase) and $4.8 million to $6.8 million (33.2% increase), respectively.
It's worth noting that these casinos are attached to racetrack facilities and offer in-person sports wagering. However, online wagering and iGaming are not yet legal in Nebraska. A bill proposing online sports betting was abandoned in April when it became clear that it wasn't gaining the necessary support to become law.
Nebraska's Online Gambling Landscape 🌐🎲
As of June 2025:
- Online Sports Betting: While retail sports betting is legal at licensed racetrack casinos, mobile betting remains prohibited. A constitutional amendment aimed at legalizing digital sports betting was withdrawn due to lack of support. Advocates are considering a citizen-led ballot initiative for 2026.
- Online Casinos: Traditional casino apps or websites are not yet legal, due to resistance from influential gambling opponents.
- Other Forms of Online Gambling: Fantasy sports apps operate, but are not explicitly permitted. Online lottery games are not available, but players can purchase lottery tickets through services like Jackpocket.
Sports betting contributes to the revenue in Nebraska's commercial casinos, with retail sportsbooks contributing $496,207 inApril 2025. Unfortunately, online sports betting is currently prohibited, and a constitutional amendment aimed at legalizing digital sports betting was withdrawn due to lack of support.
