Published on: September 19, 2025, 08:41h.
Updated on: September 19, 2025, 08:51h.
- Nebraska casinos assist homeowners with property tax payments
- Revenue from casinos in Nebraska is primarily allocated for property tax relief
- Casino earnings are exceeding initial market predictions
In 2020, Nebraska legalized casinos to combat escalating property taxes. Five years later, the state’s investment in slot machines, table gaming, and sports wagering is yielding favorable results.
This week, Governor Jim Pillen (R) revealed that Nebraska’s casino revenue has significantly surpassed expectations. This success has enabled the state to allocate an additional $20 million for property tax relief.
“As governor, improving our flawed property tax system is a priority for me. We must streamline processes and ensure Nebraskans benefit fully from property tax relief,” said Pillen.
“With this executive order, we are guaranteeing that all funds are passed directly to taxpayers. This move represents a sensible approach to good governance, aiding families throughout Nebraska,” the governor added.
Property Tax Benefits
Nebraska imposes a $1 million fee on each horse racetrack wishing to provide casino gambling, valid for a 20-year gaming license.
The total gaming revenue from slot machines, table games, and sports bets is taxed at 20%. Of this, 70% is allocated to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund, while the host county receives 25%, and the remaining 5% is distributed between initiatives for problem gambling and the state’s General Fund.
For the 2024 tax year, Nebraska’s gaming expansion achieved nearly $250 in property tax savings for homes valued at $200K. With Governor Pillen directing an additional $20 million to the fund, these rebates are expected to grow for 2025.
Five casinos operate in Nebraska: WarHorse Casino Lincoln, WarHorse Casino Omaha, Harrah’s Columbus NE Racing & Casino, Grand Island Casino Resort, and Lake Mac Casino Resort.
WarHorse Gaming, LLC, the commercial development division of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, partners with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA). They plan to commence construction on WarHorse South Sioux City in spring 2026.
Through August 2025, the tax contributions from the five casinos reached over $33 million.
WarHorse Omaha led in gross gaming revenue with $47.7 million over eight months, closely followed by WarHorse Lincoln at $42.4 million.
Grand Island reported $27.7 million in gross gaming revenue, while Harrah’s recorded $13.8 million. Lake Mac, which just opened on August 19, earned approximately $422K from players in its initial 12 days.
Online Sports Betting in Limbo
Currently, Nebraska permits sports betting only in-person at its racetrack casinos, limiting market potential. In states where both online and in-person betting is permitted, online wagers dominate.
Earlier this year, Nebraska lawmakers explored legislation to present a new gaming referendum allowing online sports betting. Another proposal argued that the existing 2020 gaming referendum implied approval for online gambling, seeking legislative endorsement for internet betting.
Both initiatives ultimately stalled due to political impasse. State Senator Brad von Gillern (R-Elkhorn) expressed opposition to online sports betting, citing concerns about the impulsiveness of young men in their 20s.