Nebraska Casinos & Gambling Laws – List of NE Casinos
Updated on: July 29th, 2020
While Nebraska laws restrict most forms of gambling, there are still some options for residents in the state. Within Nebraska, there are four tribal casinos and racetracks with a handful of other gambling venues.
However, the minimum gambling age depends on the activity, so you’ll need to be at least 18 to play bingo and 21 to enter casinos or poker rooms. Also, you need to be 19 and over to play the lottery or take part in parimutuel wagering.
So, if you want to know precisely what to gamble on in Nebraska, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll list all of the casinos and gambling destinations, along with what’s allowed. But, if you’d prefer to just get to gambling, we’ve also listed our top casino picks below.
At the moment, Nebraska does not allow online gambling in any format, though there are plans to allow it eventually. But, for now, you can’t bet online, and you might be charged with a misdemeanor for illegally gambling.
On the other hand, in-person gambling is allowed for certain types, like lotteries and charitable gaming. Further, gambling at race tracks and licensed establishments like a restaurant is permitted.
To simplify things, we’ve listed everything below that has been allowed or is currently being discussed:
Casino Gambling: Illegal
Charitable Gaming: Legal
Daily Fantasy Sports: Unspecified
Dog Racing Betting: Illegal
Horse Racing Betting: Legal
Lottery: Legal
Online Gambling: Unspecified
Poker: Illegal
Social Gambling: Legal
Tribal Gaming: Legal
Nebraska Racetracks
There are four racetracks in the state of Nebraska currently operating and taking live bets. Each track has a dedicated racebook, but can’t offer casino gaming.
Charity Gambling
To offer keno, bingo, and raffle draws, charities have to be registered with the state to host these events. So, ensure that you are attending legal events if you want to play the games and raise money in the Cornhusker State.
Nebraska State Lottery
To play the Nebraska Lottery, you have to be 19 and older to take part in number drawings and play scratch-offs. Additionally, you can place multi-state lottos like Powerball and MegaMillions legally.
Tribal Casinos
In the Cornhusker State, there are four tribal casinos on reservations that offer Class II gaming machines at establishments run by the Omaha and Santee Sioux tribes.
Nebraska Gambling Laws
Overall, the Nebraska Legislature prefers to tackle different forms of gambling with specific acts and bans. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that expansion efforts usually fail, including daily fantasy sports and regular sports betting.
While racetracks are legal, only horses can compete in events, so no greyhounds are on the cards. To run a racebook, at least one race must take place on the track a day. All racetracks are licensed by the Nebraska State Racing Commission.
Meanwhile, the Nebraska Lottery can only offer scratch-offs and number drawings. Also, entries into multi-state draws are allowed under current laws. Meanwhile, businesses with a liquor license can provide live keno draws with machines that mimic video poker.
Lastly, tribal casinos can offer bingo machines, but not slot machines under Class II provisions.
List of NE Casinos & Racetracks
These are the gambling venues currently allowed to operate in the Cornhusker state:
Nebraska Bingo Halls
Lincoln – Cornhusker Bingo, Superior Bingo
Casino Directory
Iron Horse Bar & Casino in Emerson
Lincoln Race Course
Ohiya Casino & Resort in Niobrara
Lucky 77 Casino in Walthill
Native Star Casino in Winnebago
Horse Track Directory
Columbus Races in Columbus
Fonner Park in Grand Island
Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings
Horsemen’s Park – Omaha
Atokad Race Track in South Sioux City
Casinos & Gambling FAQs
What is the minimum gambling age in Nebraska?
In the state, the minimum age is 19 for lotteries and keno, 18 for horse racing and charity games, and 21 for casinos.
Is horse racing legal in Nebraska?
Yes, simulcast and live racing betting are currently legal.
Is online horse racing legal in Nebraska?
No, online gambling is not allowed under any circumstance in the state.
Where can I play keno in Nebraska?
There are many bars and restaurants in the state that offer live keno games.
Are casinos legal in Nebraska?
Yes, but only on tribal reservations according to current laws.
Are daily fantasy sports sites legal in Nebraska?
Technically, daily fantasy sports fall under skill games, so they could be legal.
Is online poker, casinos or sports betting legal in Nebraska?
No, because online gambling has been specifically banned.
Is Nebraska keno rigged?
Not always, but some keno machines have been implicated in possible cheating after players noticed a pattern in 2016.
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