Nebraska Casinos

Nebraska had one of the most restricted gambling environments in the Midwest until November 2020, when voters passed four ballot initiatives authorizing casino gaming at licensed horse racing tracks. Before that vote, Nebraska residents who wanted to play slots or table games crossed the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where three full-service casino hotels operate within 15 minutes of downtown Omaha. That cross-river market dynamic defined Nebraska gambling for decades.

The 2020 authorization changed the picture. Nebraska’s racetrack casino market has been developing since, with venues in Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha, and other locations adding gaming floors to existing racing facilities. The Nebraska Gaming Commission oversees licensing and regulation. Nebraska has no tribal casino gaming and no standalone commercial casino licenses separate from the racetrack structure.

Nebraska’s Racetrack Casino Market

Nebraska’s 2020 gambling expansion tied casino authorization specifically to licensed horse racing tracks. This was a deliberate choice by supporters who argued it would preserve the horse racing industry while giving Nebraskans in-state gaming options. The racetrack casino model means Nebraska’s casino floors are physically located at facilities that also run live racing seasons and year-round simulcast programs.

Nebraska racetrack casino properties

F

Fonner Park

Grand Island

The Nebraska Gaming Commission issues Class II racetrack gaming licenses (for electronic gaming) and Class III licenses (for additional table-style games where authorized). Properties in Lincoln, Omaha, and other Nebraska cities with licensed racing facilities have moved through the licensing process since 2020, expanding the statewide market. The pace of development has been gradual — Nebraska’s casino market is still maturing compared to neighboring Iowa, which has had commercial casinos since 1991.

Omaha and the Council Bluffs Option

For Omaha-area residents, the Iowa casino market across the Missouri River predates Nebraska’s authorization by 30 years and offers a more complete gaming experience. Council Bluffs, Iowa — directly across the river from Omaha — has three major casino hotels: Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs (Boyd Gaming), Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Caesars Entertainment), and Harrah’s Council Bluffs. All three operate full table game floors with live blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker rooms that Nebraska’s racetrack casinos do not yet match.

Nebraska’s own casino market is developing and growing, but for full-service live table game gambling, the Iowa side remains the primary option for Omaha metropolitan residents. Lincoln residents are closer to Nebraska’s own facilities at SouthPoint Expressway Casino and Lincoln properties.

Nebraska Gambling Law and Regulation

Nebraska’s gambling regulation sits with the Nebraska Gaming Commission (formerly part of the Nebraska Racing Commission), which was restructured following the 2020 authorization. Nebraska does not have tribal casino gaming; the state has no federally recognized tribes with active IGRA gaming compacts.

Quick Visitor Reference

• Grand Island: Fonner Park casino and horse racing
• Omaha metro: Nebraska racetrack casinos in development; Council Bluffs, Iowa is 10-15 min across the Missouri River for full-service casino hotels
• Lincoln: Racetrack casino options developing at Lincoln-area licensed facilities
• Sports betting: Retail at licensed racetrack casinos; mobile not broadly available
• Minimum age: 21 for casino gaming; 19 for lottery
• No standalone casino resorts: Nebraska’s gaming is tied to racetrack licenses