Nebraska Online Casino Real Money – Gambling Laws in The Cornhusker State

Land-Based Casinos in Nebraska

In November 2020, three gaming measures were passed to allow commercial casino gambling at horse racing tracks.

Five casinos are operating temporary facilities while permanent ones are being built.

There are also five Native American casinos, most in the state’s Northeastern portion.

Horse & Dog Tracks

Horse racing is legal in Nebraska at its six state-regulated race tracks.

Players can bet on live racing and simulcast racing. Currently, the state does not offer off-track betting for horse racing.

The government has yet to legalize Advance Deposit Wagering, so your only option for online horse racing is offshore racebooks. 

Five of the six racetracks are converting to racinos, offering both horse race betting and casino gambling. Those locations will operate temporarily until the construction of permanent casinos is completed.

Dog racing in all forms is illegal in Nebraska. It is also unlawful to bet on simulcast racing. Your only option will be through offshore betting sites.

Sports Betting

Retail sports betting was legalized in 2021, and the first bets were received in June 2023.

Currently, the only retail locations for sports betting are Warhorse Casino in Lincoln and Grand Island Casino Resort.

Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling

Nebraska has some of the broadest charitable gambling laws in the country.

Standard charitable gambling games like raffles and bingo are legal for charitable organizations. Pickle Cards, another version of a pull tab, are also permitted. 

Nebraska also allows charitable organizations to hold lotteries. This enables prize draws and games like a 50/50 to be held.

Keno Games

Over 180 “Keno Lotteries” are held throughout the state at various parlors, with players wagering over $349 million in 2022 alone.

Keno is a form of charitable gambling, with part of the proceeds going to local communities.

The game has a lower age requirement than most forms of gambling in Nebraska. Players only need to be 19 or older to gamble at Keno parlors.

Social Gaming at Home

Nebraska laws make it difficult to hold home social casino gambling. If a game involves any element of luck, including poker games, the games are illegal for real money betting.

Games of skill, such as dart games and chess games, are legal. 

The only way to legally hold a home game is to make it free play, meaning that players don’t wager anything of value or make a buy-in of any type.

This includes buying merchandise as a condition of playing the game or tournament.

Poker Rooms and Clubs

Poker cash games and tournaments are not authorized for Nebraska casinos.

Bank-managed Texas Hold’em Poker Games are among the table games approved for Nebraska casinos. 

Poker games that do not require buy-ins from players are legal, so there are bar leagues and other forms of legal poker around the state.

Home poker games are illegal under Nevada law because they have an element of chance.

Eight-Liners

Eight-liners are generally considered slot machines, which makes them illegal gambling devices under Nebraska law.

Normally, they would only be found at Native American and horse racing casinos.

However, there is an exception. Eight-liner Keno machines may be found in Keno establishments throughout the state as Keno is legal in both counties and cities.

Casino Cruises

Nebraska is a landlocked state and does not offer casino cruises. The state also does not authorize riverboat casinos.

Online Slots

Offshore Nebraska online casinos offer thousands of popular online slot games with superb graphics, immersive themes, and massive prizes.

Some casino sites have jackpot slots with the potential for life-changing prizes.

Slot machines are legal inside Native American casinos and horse racing casinos. Most venues offer from 50 to 500 machines, ranging from classic single-line games to video slot games.

Online Poker

Online poker falls into a legal gray area in state laws. You can play Omaha poker, and Texas Hold’em cash games and tournaments at offshore casinos.

Many of these tournaments have generous guarantees similar to those in brick-and-mortar Las Vegas or Atlantic City casinos.

Traditional poker games are not currently legal in Nebraska. Only bank-managed Texas Hold’em Poker games are authorized in the state.

You can play Texas Hold’em cash games and tournaments in free-play bar leagues, but not for real money.

Blackjack

Nebraskans can hone their blackjack skills by playing online blackjack.

You’ll find traditional blackjack games and popular variants like Perfect Pairs Blackjack,  21+3 Blackjack, Rolling Stack Blackjack, and more at Nebraska online casinos.

Blackjack was just legalized in Nebraska, with the first games launching in August 2023.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games are the best option for playing table games at online casinos, as live games offer a more realistic casino experience from your home.

Most Nebraska online casinos offer Live Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and poker games. These games provide a wide variety of stakes and are available 24/7.

Most land-based casinos in the state don’t offer traditional games like blackjack and roulette. If you want to play these games, offshore online casinos are the only option.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Nebraska?

Nebraska law does not regulate or prohibit online gambling, except sports betting. Presently, only retail sports betting is allowed in the state.

Other forms of gambling, including fantasy sports, remain a legal gray area. The exception is social casinos. That’s because Nebraska legalizes any contest that does not involve the risk of anything of value from a player. 

Gambling Covers Any Form of Betting Not Authorized by Law

Nebraska is thorough in its definition of gambling. It includes betting on the “outcome of a future event, which outcome is determined by an element of chance, or upon the outcome of a game, contest, or election.”

Nebraska’s Revised Statute 28-1101 considers illegal gambling as participating in activities not authorized by gambling laws. This also covers games and activities that are ordinarily legal for authorized organizations. For example, running a private raffle.

Keno Legal as a Charitable Lottery

The Nebraska County and City Lottery Act permits counties and cities to conduct a lottery for “community betterment purposes.”

As a result, Keno parlors throughout Nebraska allow standard and video versions of Keno games.

Mobile keno games are permitted only if the person is physically at a Keno location. (Sections 9-601 through 9-653 of Revised Nebraska Statute)

Legal Forms of Gambling Under Nebraska Law

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission regulates casinos and horse racing, while the Nebraska Department of Revenue regulates charitable gambling.

Many activities are exempt from Nebraska gambling laws. Here is a quick rundown of those activities:

• Charitable Lotteries
• Charitable Bingo
• Charitable Raffles
• Charitable Pickle Cards
• Keno authorized under the Nebraska County and City Lottery Act
• Nebraska State Lottery
• Native American Casinos
• Horse Racing Casinos
• Pari-Mutuel Betting
• Retail Sports Betting
• Bona-Fide Contests of Skill (Luck does not play a factor in the outcome)
• Conducting or participating in a prize contest
• Coin-operated amusement machines (Ex: Claw machines)

Play at Licensed Casinos Only

Regulatory bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curacao Gaming Control Board license legitimate online casinos.

These regulators require that casinos follow strict guidelines for player safety and honest gaming. If a casino is not licensed, don’t play there.

Look to Top-Rated Gaming Providers

Check which companies are offering casino games. Look for premier providers like BetSoft, Pragmatic Play, Rival, Wazdan, and others.

Many established providers hold licenses in multiple jurisdictions, following the same guidelines as licensed online casinos.

Practice Responsible Gambling Habits

Most online casinos allow you to set limits on your play. Consider setting limits for playing time, deposits, and losses. This will help you control your gambling and prevent problem gambling.

Look for Feedback from Nebraskans

Research any casino you wish to play and look for feedback from players. You’ll hear the good and bad about a casino, so look for consistent complaints about a casino, especially from Nebraskans.

This will help you avoid rogue casinos and help you find the best online casinos.

Pay Attention to RTP and Volatility

The RTP of slot games will tell you how much a game will return to players over time. Volatility will give you an idea of the swings you will have in your session.

The best games for beginners and those with small bankrolls are those with Low or Medium volatility and an RTP of 96% or higher.