Nebraska Gambling Laws: Regulations and Types
Pari-mutual betting was the first gambling opportunity in Nebraska back in 1934. Charity bingo, sports betting, and Indian casinos became part of the state’s legal map at a later stage. NE is strictly regulated, and there are several forms of gambling which you can practice legally as a resident or as a visitor. Further in the article, you will get familiar with these Nebraska gambling laws, so you can get an idea of the legal betting map.
It is always good to get familiar with the details before jumping into the gaming world for real money. That includes laws, regulations, and everything related. That’s why our blog post comes in handy. You will find vital data on everything from the legal gambling age to the gambling laws in Nebraska. It is advisable to read the whole article, but if you are interested in a particular topic, use the following boxes.
The Legal Gambling Situation in NE – A Short History
Overall, gambling in Nebraska was almost non-existent until the 2020 election cycle, when NE decided to embrace the gambling wave with a pair of gambling initiatives. One of which stayed behind the creation of the Nebraska State Racing & Gaming Commission. The measure allowed casino-style gambling at horse tracks across the Cornhusker State. Corresponding laws followed the Legislature in 2021.
The first legal gambling form arrived with the OK on horse betting at the state’s racetracks in 1934. The first land-based tribal casino opened its doors in the 1990s. In 1993, Nebraska added state lottery, charitable gaming, and social gaming. Raffles, Keno, and some other games are available at licensed establishments, according to the Nebraska laws on gambling.
List of the Assorted Gambling Laws in Nebraska
Let’s start from the list of the different Nebraska laws on gambling, which will help you out deciding whether playing in an NE casino is legal or not. In other words, there wouldn’t be any land-based betting halls if they were illegal. The next element will show you the relevant gambling laws and their essential parameters if you want to know why.
| Types of Gambling | Information | Legal Games | Applicable Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | The state of Nebraska has a strict gambling law policy. They lack a specific section on online casinos. Thus, players can play casino games using platforms outside NE. | Offshore Online Casinos, DFS | Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, State Statute 287-D |
| Indian Casinos | Pari-mutuel betting alongside several casino games is declared legal in the state of Nebraska. That is, if they are offered on tribal land. Different charities can also legally offer bingo, lotteries, and other games of chance. | Slots, Keno, Lottery, Poker | Indian Gaming Regulatory Act |
| Sports | Horse racing in Nebraska has been legal as a pari-mutuel wagering opportunity since 1935. There are more legal racetracks since 2020. | Horse Race Gambling at Racetracks | Nebraska Initiative 430, Nebraska State Racing Commission |
| Legal Age | Nebraska has different legal age restrictions depending on the type of the game: 18 for bingo, 19 for lottery and keno, 21 for tribal land-based betting halls and pari-mutuel horse races. | Depending on the Age of the Player | Nebraska Gaming Commission |
The state’s tone on sports betting has changed in the past years. The idea even went further, including legal sports bets and casino games. That has yet to come to a vote. Even with laws in Nebraska being so conservative, there have been some adjustments. In 2017 the first Daily Fantasy Sports bill was introduced to the Cornhusker State. More on that in a little bit. First, get familiar with some milestones from the history of the gambling laws in Nebraska.
Nebraska Online Gambling Laws
Poker sites and online platforms are illegal, making social casinos and sweepstakes the only legitimate way to reach casino games allowed by the Nebraska online gambling laws. Of course, there are other ways like offshore sites, which is better to approach with caution.
Nebraska’s state laws lack restrictions against licensed offshore-based gambling entities. That is clearly stated in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. On top of that, no federal law prohibits NE residents from engaging in online gambling. Every online gambling law is directed towards restricting domestic operations. The legit in-state halls are not yet permitted to offer their services online. Still, locals can legally play from any offshore site that will accept their registration.
If your bank account allows registration on foreign websites, you can still enjoy your favorite casino games. Just make sure it is a licensed international operator. As sports betting is concerned, the state forbids all kinds of local sports betting except horse racing. However, when such services are provided from a confirmed retailer like DraftKings, Nebraskans can try a different approach at the sports section as well.
Nebraska Indian Gambling Laws
Initiative 429 adjusts the state legislations to allow licensed racetracks to incorporate table games and slot machines. That makes the legal situation with skill-based games in the state much more pleasant. There is some more assistance from the LB560 Bill, which also permits sports betting on-site. You can also try your luck at bingo, lotto, and games.
Another form of land-based casino allowed by the Nebraska Indian gambling laws is related to the offline betting destinations located on tribal land. There, locals can try different games of skill. We talk about the only legal gaming form approved by the state officials or the Tribal Casinos.
Nowadays, Nebraska has about five gambling venues plus several racetracks. Unfortunately, the choice of gaming machines is not very rich. The total number of slot machines in all these venues is nearly 1000, while the table games are about a couple hundred. Further in the article we present top NE tribal casino locations.
Sports as a Bullet Point in the NE Gambling Laws
Even though Nebraska relates to one of the most popular card games – the Omaha poker series, gambling on-premises is held on a short leash. Even so, before pari-mutuel horse race betting at licensed racetracks, there was no wagering in NE at all. In time, additional amendments added more advancements to the niche and enabled a new approach to legalizing sports betting.
The first races were held in 1934 when casino games were prohibited. Nowadays, the sports bullet point in the Nebraska online gambling laws and those involving land-based locations fill a short section, but it has space to improve. Keep in mind that sports betting is forbidden, and local bookies are not allowed. Nebraska’s residents can still have intriguing sports events in their calendar other than horse races.
While most types of gambling are illegal, Nebraska coincides with US federal laws, deeming fantasy sports betting in the legally grey area as it passes for a skill game. Unlike traditional sports betting methods, fantasy takes far more skill to have the best odds to win. The fast-paced alternative is growing more and more popular each year. It proves to be an exciting and reliable way to get your sports gambling thrill.
Locals have enjoyed DFS since 2017 thanks to the world giants in the category DraftKings and FanDuel. You can try leagues including the NBA, NFL, MLS, MLB, and others. Things get even better with the user-oriented sports apps offered by the leading DFS websites.
Nebraska Gambling Age Laws
The gambling laws in Nebraska concerning the minimum legal age to bet combine several restrictions. They are divided by gaming category and the related age. As an example, the legal age at which you can engage in NE land-based casino gaming is 21 years or older. For bingo, players must be 18, but for the Nebraska State Lotto and keno, you must be 19 years of age. Nebraska is among the states with the highest minimum gambling age.
| ➡️ Land-Based Casinos | 21 years or older |
| ➡️ Lotto | 19 years or older |
| ➡️ Keno | 19 years or older |
| ➡️ Bingo | 18 years or older |
These minimum legal gambling fundaments are determined by several Nebraska gambling laws and bills. That includes LB561, Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission regulations, 9-801, et seq. from the Nebraska State Lottery Laws, and more. Keep in mind that legal age minimums are applicable at international (a.k.a offshore) casino sites, and you should comply with them as well.
Top Gambling Suggestions in Nebraska
The Cornhusker State has five active Indian casinos and pari-mutuel facilities. The spots are located in five cities with the idea of spreading out to a couple more. All these casinos offer sports, poker, casino, and live dealers. That is possible due to the future plans and bills offered by the local authorities. Many racetrack locations will be adding casino games in the next couple of years. Check out the owners, locations, and other details on the hottest legal NE casinos.
- Iron Horse Bar & Casino – located in Emerson, owned by the Winnebago Tribe.
- Lucky 77 Casino – located in Walthill, owned by the Omaha Tribe. It offers sports, poker, casino, and live dealers.
- Native Star Casino – located in Winnebago, owned by the Winnebago Tribe. It offers sports, poker, casino, and live dealers.
- Ohiya Casino – located in Niobrara, owned by the Santee Sioux Nation. It offers sports, poker, casino, and live dealers.
- Prairie Flower Casino – located in Carter Lake, owned by the Ponca Tribe. It offers sports, poker, casino, and live dealers.
These are the first-ever legal land-based venues in the strict Nebraska State. With the local Nebraska laws on gambling loosening up a little, the tribes plan to expand soon. Some projects include Warhorse Casino Omaha in Omaha, Warhorse Casino Lincoln in Lincoln, Warhorse Casino South Sioux City in South Sioux City, Grand Island Casino Resort in Grand Island, and FairPlay Park Casino in Hastings. Regardless of the destination, you will enjoy a fair and legal gambling adventure.
Read the FAQ to Learn More
You have reached the end of the Nebraska gambling laws blog post. We hope that you were able to catch up with the most important details relevant today. Still, we have prepared the following brief FAQ section on the available gambling laws in Nebraska, which we highly recommend for you to read.
