Bill would decrease time limit between Keno games

The General Affairs Committee heard testimony Jan. 28 on a bill that would amend the current 5-minute time limit required between Keno games.

LB273, introduced by Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek, would reduce the time that Keno operators must wait between games to three minutes.

Karpisek said the measure simply is an attempt to make Keno more entertaining and result in more games being played.

“I do not think that this is an expansion of gambling,” he said.

George Payne, representing Keno operators, testified in support of the bill. He said reducing the required time between games to three minutes would be in keeping with the original intent of how Keno is structured, but possibly would generate more revenue for cities and towns.

A library in Papillion received over $1 million in Keno funds, he said, and is a major asset to the community.

“The number of kids, parents and [other] adults who use that facility on a daily basis is phenomenal,” Payne said.

Jack Cheloha, testifying on behalf of the city of Omaha, also supported the bill, saying the portion of Keno profits received by political subdivisions is required by law to be used for community betterment. More revenue means more funds for police cruisers, parks and other projects, he said.

Pat Loontjer of Gambling with the Good Life testified in opposition, saying that any increase in the speed of gambling leads to an increase in gambling addiction.

Loontjer suggested that lawmakers re-examine the percentages of revenue allocated to political subdivisions rather than attempting to increase the number of games played. Keno operators receive almost twice the amount of funds that cities and counties do from Keno gaming profits, she said.

“This [change] is an attempt by the Keno operators to line their own pockets,” Loontjer said.

The committee took no immediate action on LB273.