| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Lawsuits to Follow Ballot Decision on Online Gambling Proposals
- Sunday, 16 Jul 2006
Secretary of State, John A. Gale, with an opinion from the Attorney General in hand, will most likely report to his fellow Nebraskans whether or not they will have an opportunity in November to vote on four proposals to expand gambling in the state. Whatever Gale’s decision will happen to be, it is almost certain to create the typical result – a lawsuit. Gale claims that he will review written arguments from attorneys on both sides of the gambling issue, as well as study the conclusion reached by Jon Bruning, the Attorney General.
‘The essence or fundamental nature of each of the proposed initiatives is the expansion of gambling in Nebraska,’ said Bruning. The new gambling petitions to be reviewed include a plan for allowing three casinos and video keno machines to be built and installed. If and when lawsuits are filed, both parties involved will most probably urge that the cases be expedited to ensure that the petition plans can appear on the ballot if proponents win in court.
According to the state constitution, a three-year waiting period is mandatory between similar petition proposals added to the ballot. In 2004, voters rejected a constitutional amendment and a proposed statute that would have legalized land-based gambling at casinos. Voters also refused to allow two Omaha casinos to be built, but did allow slot and video poker machines – up to 4,900 of them – to be installed statewide. It seems that the resolution regarding gambling in Nebraska is far from its conclusion. Only time will tell how Nebraskans will vote.
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