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Group fights 'tooth and nail' against gaming initiative in Nebraska

Monday, November 2, 2015

The Winnebago Tribe owns and operates the WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa. Photo from Facebook

An anti-gaming group is vowing to do whatever it takes to prevent the expansion of gaming in Nebraska.

Gambling with the Good Life has been fighting gaming expansion efforts for 20 years. The group, which has ties to religious leaders, plans to do the same for a new initiative that's being backed by Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe.

“Nothing’s off the table,” Pat Loontjer, the group’s executive director, told the Associated Press. “We’re going to fight this tooth and nail, because we’re fighting for our children and grandchildren. It’s not about the money.”

Keep the Money in Nebraska hopes to collect enough signatures to put three gaming questions on the ballot in November 2016. If approved by voters, racetrack owners could convert their facilities into casinos.

Ho-Chunk Inc. owns a former racetrack that could benefit if effort succeeds. Five other existing racetracks would also be able to offer gaming.

Presumably, the same types of games would be available to the Winnebago Tribe, the Omaha Tribe, the Santee Sioux Tribe and the Ponca Tribe. The Winnebago, Omaha and Santee Sioux tribes are currently restricted to Class II gaming on their reservations because the state refuses to negotiate a Class III gaming compact. The Ponca Tribe is not currently involved in gaming.

Separately, the Winnebago Tribe and the Omaha Tribe operate Class III casinos on trust land in neighboring Iowa, where casino-style gaming is legal. Gaming is also legal in the other states that border Nebraska -- Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming.

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

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Nebraska gambling opponents gear up for new casino campaign (AP 11/2)