Tribe to Create second run at Nebraska casino legalization

Following failing to gather enough signatures to have a pro-casino constitutional amendment placed before voters in 2016, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is reportedly set to start another campaign that would want to bring casino gambling to lsquo;The Cornhusker State.

Hoping to get question on 2020 ballot:

According to a Sunday report by the Sioux City Journal paper, the federally-recognized tribe’s Ho-Chunk Incorporated economic growth vehicle is planning to partner with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Organization in a petition drive that would hope to set the question of casino legalization on the 2020 ballot.

The paper reported that the tribe might love to donate Nebraska’s 1.9 million taxpayers the chance to decide whether casino games and possibly even sportsbetting should be legalized in the Midwestern state’s horseracing facilities such as its own Atokad Downs near South Sioux City.

First try reveals unsuccessful:

The Sioux City Journal reported that the prior ballot petition attempt from Ho-Chunk Incorporated finished after Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale invalidated many of the collected signatures to depart the campaign a few 40,000 names short of their 117,188 target.

New campaign seeking spouses:

Lance Morgan, Chief Executive Officer for Ho-Chunk Incorporated, supposedly told the paper that the newest petition drive is likely to cost tens of thousands of dollars and that his organization has begun searching for financial partners.

Morgan into the Sioux City Journal…

“We’ve had many calls from folks that are interested in partnering.

Language to be decided over the winter:

Morgan also told the paper that his group is planning to finalize the language of the desirable ballot question in partnership with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association within the course of the winter before starting the signature-collecting portion of the campaign next year.

Slimming out to neighboring states:

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska owns and operates the WinnaVegas Casino Resort in neighboring Sloan, Iowa, and reportedly estimated that the state of Nebraska looses roughly $500 million a year in tax revenues due to citizens traveling to casinos in neighboring states, which also consist of Missouri, South Dakota and Kansas.