Lawmakers in Nebraska Want More Oversight Over the NRGC
Only In Nebraska Do Rifles, Audits, and Sports Betting Go Hand in Hand
Cornhusker Drama
Hey, folks, gather ’round because it seems like Nebraska is turning up the heat on the good ol’ Racing and Gaming Commission. Brace yourselves –we’ve got audits, rifles, and a dash of controversy in the mix.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission has grown rapidly with new casinos opening up. Now lawmakers are talking about giving the governor more say in overseeing the agency. | Tap on the picture to learn more 🔽 https://t.co/4rEK08LlVf
— Fremont Tribune (@FremontTribune) January 30, 2024
So, here’s the scoop. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, the cool cats regulating the state’s casino scene, are now under the legislative microscope. Word on the street is they’re making some interesting purchases, like semi-automatic rifles.
Yeah, you heard that right. They’re gearing up like it’s the zombie apocalypse to tackle potential “active shooter” incidents at the state’s gambling casinos. Now, unless the slot machines have started acting up, I’m pretty sure we missed the latest betting news about the undead making a pit stop at the roulette tables.
But rifles are just the tip of the iceberg. Things are getting curiouser and curiouser at the NRGC. State Auditor Mike Foley is sniffing out a scent, and it ain’t the smell of freshly laid asphalt. He’s charging that the commission’s not just skirting state law – it’s doing a full-on donut around it.
Now, State Sen. John Lowe has rolled up with Legislative Bill 839, shouting, “We need more oversight!” He wants the governor to take the reins and keep an eye on these rifle-toting auditors.
The proposed bill suggests the governor should give the nod to the commission’s executive director, and… hey, let’s throw in a rule that the director can’t moonlight in another gig. No side hustles for the director, not even betting online.
Denny Lee, the commission’s chair, is all cool and collected, saying, “Yeah, it makes sense. We’ve got more responsibilities now than we had dreamed three years ago.” Fair play, Denny, fair play. So, the agency is taking on more responsibilities than a superhero with a day job.
I mean, they went from having a workforce that you could probably count with one hand to almost a dozen. Talk about a growth spurt! The total expenditures? Well, those skyrocketed like they just hit the jackpot –a whopping 381% increase in just three years.
Hold up, there’s more drama. Auditor Foley steps in, giving the commission a little side-eye. He’s raising questions about their auditing game, claiming they also missed some checkmarks for the fiscal year 2023… like, failed to conduct timely audits of the three gambling operators in the state for fiscal year 2023 and neglected to carry out the mandated “integrity and security assessment” for one of the operators. Oops!
Now, the commission swears they’re working on it. They’ve got those quarterly independent audits coming in from all three operators. Crisis averted? We’ll see.
With the possible arrival of online gambling in the state, things need to be corrected now before everything gets out of hand. Will the governor take charge? Can the commission keep their rifle purchase justified?
Stay tuned for the Nebraska sports betting saga –it’s turning out to be quite the rollercoaster.
For gambling news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
