Legislation

Winnebago Tribe corporation raises funds for gaming petition

Friday, October 16, 2015

A row of gaming machines at the WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa. Photo from Facebook

A group called Keep the Money in Nebraska has started collecting signatures to put a series of gaming initiatives on the 2016 ballot.

The group raised $250,000 so far for the effort. Most of the money came from Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe.

Collecting nearly 114,000 signatures for the petition will require about $1 million, Ho-Chunk CEO Lance Morgan estimated. The deadline would come in July 2016 in order for the issue to appear on the ballot in November.

From there, it would be up to voters to approve gaming. Three questions will be offered: one to amend the state constitution to authorize gamine, one to regulate gaming at licensed racetracks and another to set the tax rate and revenue distributions.

In the event voters agree, tribes would be entitled to the same types of games. The state has consistently refused to negotiate, however.

Even without a compact, Ho-Chunk Inc. owns a former racetrack that could be converted into a casino if the initiatives pass. Five other existing racetracks would also be able to offer gaming.

Separately, the tribe operates the WinnaVegas Casino Resort in neighboring Iowa, where Class III games are legal.

Ho-Chunk Inc. owns Indianz.Com. The website is not involved with any of the operations of the corporation.

Get the Story:
Voters might decide casino gambling at Nebraska racetracks (Nebraska Radio Network 10/15)
Group starts collecting signatures to legalize casino gambling at Nebraska racetracks (The Omaha World-Herald 10/14)
Signature Gathering to Start for Nebraska Gambling Measure (AP 10/13)