Gambling in Nebraska
Nebraska is the home of wide open plains, farmland, and a buzzing music and food scene, but one thing it is not known for is gambling. Although online and casino gambling are currently illegal in Nebraska (but we'll go into more depth about this because it gets a little tricky), it does have 5 tribal casinos spread across the state. Betting on horse racing has been allowed in Nebraska since 1934, but since 2020, there have been significant steps forward in expanding the options open to players in the Corn Husker State. Read on for our full gambling guide to Nebraska.
Top Gambling Cities in Nebraska
If you’re looking for a gambling city in Nebraska, options are quite spread out. Tribal casinos are concentrated in the Northern and Eastern parts of the state, including Emerson, Winnebago, and Valentine, making them the best choice for a casino city in Nebraska. There are also six racetracks found across cities including Omaha, Lincoln, and Columbus. The largest race track in Nebraska is Fonner Park in Grand Island.
Casino Games in Nebraska
There are currently no non-tribal casinos in Nebraska. However, this is set to change soon. All 5 casinos currently in Nebraska are owned by tribal nations including the Winnebago, the Santee Sioux Tribe, and the Rosebud Tribe of Nebraska.
These include the Lucky 77 Casino, the Native Star Casino, and the Rosebud (although technically this sits on the state line between Nebraska and South Dakota, so it can be enjoyed by residents from both states). The largest tribal Nebraska Casino is Ohiya Casino and Resort in Niobrara, which offers slots and bingo as well as a hotel and restaurant.
Nebraska Lottery
In company with lots of other nearby regions, Nebraska does have a state lottery, which offers two types of games: scratch-off tickets and lotto drawings. The Nebraska lottery also occasionally joins with lotteries from other states to offer larger Powerball and mega millions jackpots. Lottery tickets can’t be sold over the internet.
Keno
Many bars, clubs, and restaurants all over Nebraska offer video keno games, effectively making them mini Nebraska casinos. Despite being introduced in Nebraska in the 1980s, keno remains quite controversial. Only businesses with a liquor license are able to provide video keno, and only during the hours when it is legal to serve alcohol (for example, it’s against the law to serve alcohol before noon on Sundays). There are also prohibitions on the type of keno offered.
Horse Racing
There are six racetracks in Nebraska where visitors may place bets on the outcome of races. Five of these racetracks hold thoroughbred racing events exclusively, and the other offers quarter horse racing (a quarter of a mile race between two horses).
Since the passing of amendments to the gambling laws, many of these race tracks have plans in place to expand their offerings to onsite casinos as well. This means they will be able to offer gaming options including slots, table games, sportsbooks, and live and simulcast horse racing.
Sports Betting
As part of Bill LB651, sports betting is now legal in Nebraska. However, it has not been rolled out across the state yet. At the moment, only retail and in-person sports betting will be allowed, but this could expand to include online sports betting in the future.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Nebraska?
It is legal to bet on horse racing online in Nebraska, but there are strict laws against other forms of online gambling. This means that there are no real money online casino Nebraska options if you want to stay on the right side of the law.
Online Poker
Playing online poker is not legal in Nebraska.
Online Betting
If you love online gambling Nebraska is not the place for you as it's currently illegal to gamble online, except on horse races.
Nebraska Casinos FAQs
What is the legal gambling age in Nebraska?
The legal age for gambling in Nebraska is 19 to be able to take part in horse racing, charity games, keno, and the state lottery. Players must be aged 21 and over to be able to bet in casinos or to place a bet on sporting events
Are there any casinos in Nebraska?
There are currently no casinos in Nebraska that are not owned and operated by Native American tribes. Plans are currently going forward for most of Nebraska’s race tracks to add casino games to their sites. Several also have plans to add casino resorts, which they hope to open very soon.
Is Nebraska going to legalize online gambling?
There do not seem to be any plans to legalize online gambling in the near future. However, this could change if the state's other planned gambling options are successful.
When did Nebraska legalize gambling?
Nebraska legalized betting on horse races in 1934 and approved a state lottery in 1992. In 2021, the state began the process of expanding the gambling options available, and as of 2022, this process is still ongoing.
Is sports betting legal in Nebraska?
Yes and no. If you love a bit of legal sports betting Nebraska is now very nearly the place to do it, thanks to amendments made during the 2020 election cycle and the passing of Bill LB561. Full approval for sports betting is pending, though, and expected to be rolled out across the state in late 2022. The variety of sports available to bet on is likely to include football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.
Is online sports betting legal in Nebraska?
No, online sports betting is not currently legal in Nebraska.
Are there any tribal casinos in Nebraska?
Yes, there are currently five tribal casinos in Nebraska (although one of them straddles the state border).