Omnibus gaming bill amended, advanced

Lawmakers amended and gave second-round approval April 4 to a bill that contains several updates to Nebraska gaming law.

LB775, sponsored by Sen. John Lowe of Kearney, would update the definition of licensed racetrack enclosure in the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act to include all real property licensed and used to conduct a race meeting.

The bill also would grant the commission authority to recommend necessary changes and updates to state law that it administers and authority to create an adjudication subcommittee to investigate and respond to violations of the gaming act.

As amended on general file, the measure also includes provisions of three additional bills.

Provisions of LB72, sponsored by Grand Island Sen. Raymond Aguilar, would amend the County and City Lottery Act by establishing that gross proceeds do not include any admission costs collected at any location where the lottery also is available to the public free of an admission charge.

LB73, also introduced by Aguilar, would allow funds from the County Visitors Promotion Fund to be used to improve a facility in which parimutuel wagering is conducted if the facility also serves as the site of a state fair or district or county agricultural society fair.

Provisions of Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh’s LB232 would authorize the sale of digital keno tickets for players verified to be on the premises of a licensed Nebraska lottery location. Currently, keno tickets are available only in paper form.

Additional ticket payment methods also would be authorized, including debit card, bank account, prepaid cash account or the cash balance of a payment application. Debit cards would be limited to $200 in keno wagers from a lottery operator in a single calendar day.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad offered an amendment during select file debate to add provisions of her LB544, which would make minor changes to the Nebraska Bingo Act to reflect technological advancements. The amendment was adopted 30-1.

After four hours of debate, Lowe offered a motion to invoke cloture, which ceases debate and forces a vote on the bill and any underlying amendments. Following adoption of the motion on a 44-1 vote, lawmakers adopted a technical amendment offered by Lowe and voted 35-8 to advance LB775 to final reading.