Posted on: September 19, 2025, 08:41h.
Last updated on: September 19, 2025, 08:51h.
- Nebraska casinos are helping homeowners pay their property tax bills
- Casino revenue in the Cornhusker State primarily benefits property taxes
- Casino revenue is outpacing premarket forecasts
Nebraska casinos were authorized in 2020 to help fight rising property taxes. Five years later, and Nebraska’s bet on slot machines, table games, and sports betting is proving to be a winning hand.
This week, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) announced that the state’s take from casino revenue at the five gaming properties has exceeded expectations. That’s allowed the state government to direct an additional $20 million to property tax relief.
As governor, fixing our broken property tax system is my top priority. Whenever possible, we must get bureaucracy out of the way and ensure that Nebraskans receive the full amount of property tax relief possible,” said Pillen.
“By signing this executive order, we are ensuring that all money in these funds is fully given to taxpayers. This is a common-sense, good government measure that will help Nebraska families across the state,” the governor continued.
Property Tax Savings
Nebraska charges each horse racetrack that opts to offer casino gambling a $1 million fee for a 20-year gaming license.
Gross gaming revenue from slots, tables, and sports betting is taxed at 20%, with 70% directed to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. The casino’s host county receives 25%, and the remaining 5% is divided between problem gambling programs and the state’s General Fund.
During the 2024 tax year, Nebraska’s liberalization of casino gambling resulted in approximately $250 in property tax savings on a home assessed at $200K. With Pillen directing another $20 million into the fund, the rebate will increase for 2025.
Nebraska is home to five casinos — 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 economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, is the partner of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA). The allies plan to begin construction on WarHorse South Sioux City in the spring of 2026.
Through August 2025, taxes generated by the five casinos totaled more than $33 million.
WarHorse Omaha reported the most GGR at $47.7 million during the eight months. WarHorse Lincoln was a close second at $42.4 million.
Grand Island reported GGR of $27.7 million, and Harrah’s was at $13.8 million. Lake Mac, which only opened on August 19, won about $422K from players in its first 12 days.
Online Bets on Hold
Nebraska only allows sports bets to be made in person at one of the racetrack casinos. That’s suppressing the market, as states where both online and in-person sports betting are allowed, remote wagers dominate.
Nebraska lawmakers considered legislation earlier this year to present voters with another gaming referendum, this time to allow online sports betting. Another bill, claiming that the 2020 gaming referendum allows for online gambling, sought to legalize internet betting through the legislature.
Both measures ultimately failed amid political gridlock. State Sen. Brad von Gillern (R-Elkhorn) said he opposed online sports betting because “many men in their 20s do not have the wisdom to abstain from things that are harmful to themselves.”
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