- Nebraska’s primary gambling addiction organization is set to lose $600k in funding per month if a new bill introduced on behalf of the Governor is passed.
- The Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling has seen a 40% increase in enrollments since 2020.
LINCOLN, Neb. – A new bill was recently introduced in Nebraska that would effectively end the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling, transferring its services to the state Department of Health and Human Services with funding being slashed by about 40%.
The bill was announced on behalf of Governor Jim Pillen, who has held office since January of 2023.
The primary function of the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling is to provide free counseling for any Nebraska residents struggling with gambling addiction.
Since blackjack was legalized in the state in November of 2020, the commission reported a 40% increase in counseling service enrollments.
Online blackjack had previously existed in the state with offshore websites such as Slots.lv, but the introduction of legal gambling produced a large increase in gaming numbers across the state.
Blackjack itself tends to be one of the more addictive casino games due to its simple rules and fast paced nature of the game.
Though the program will technically still exist under different management, $600k in budget cuts per month will allow for many less resources than before, which is a big deal to those dealing with addiction.
With the increased popularity of blackjack and gambling as a whole, it is likely that the number of people in search of counseling will continue to climb.
With six in-person casinos and multiple online sites / apps that offer blackjack in the state, playing legal blackjack in Nebraska has never been so easy to access.
It will be interesting to see how the bill is voted on and if it will gain enough support to pass. If it does, it could mean the end for a program that seems to have made a sizable impact on the community thus far.