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Nebraska Group Targets Video Slots Proposal

"`The people will get to vote, and they should get to vote,' Pat Loontjer, executive director of Gambling with the Good Life, said Monday. `But they need to know the truth, and the truth is, this would be devastating.'

"The Nebraska Cooperative Government Commission, which is made up of cities and counties that operate keno lottery games, wants to allow casino-style video gambling.

"The commission believes it will have the needed 110,000 valid signatures by Friday. About 130,000 signatures had been gathered by last weekend, said Kimball Mayor Greg Robinson, president of the commission.

"…Nebraskans lose millions of gambling dollars every year to casinos in Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Colorado, Robinson said.

"…Loontjer and others, including former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub and Omaha City Council President Chuck Sigerson, said passing the constitutional amendment would invite social ills like gambling addictions and personal debt.

"…Gambling with the Good Life will tell people about the dangers of gambling through church groups and person-by-person, organization-by-organization, she said.

"…Loontjer also argued that the makers of video slot machines and the outlets that offer the machines would benefit more than any amount property taxes would be lowered or charities helped…"

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