The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has collected over $500,000 from gambling winnings through the newly implemented Gambling Winnings Setoff for Outstanding Debt Act. This amount was accumulated in the first three months of the program, aimed at collecting money owed to the state from gamblers’ winnings.
Guaranteeing Children’s Well-Being
The DHHS has collected over $200,000 to address child support arrears, which refers to unpaid child support that has accumulated over time.
The Act was enacted thanks to the passage of Legislative Bill 1317, signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen last year. Pillen stated that the program ensures the funds will be “used to help support kids across Nebraska.”
“Parents have an obligation to their children, and we’re guaranteeing their well-being by collecting these winnings,” the governor added.
“Setting Our State’s Children Up for Success”
Funds collection began on September 2, with gambling venue operators authorized to withhold part of the winnings from individuals with unpaid debts in the Cornhusker State.
The funds were then sent to the Department of Revenue (DOR) and distributed to various agencies, including the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), DHHS, and DOR.
Around $530,000 reached the agencies in the first 13 weeks. The DHHS specifically received $215,852.98 for its Child Support Enforcement Program.
Shannon Grotrian, director of the Office of Economic Assistance, stated that by directing the money to families in need, the program is setting Nebraska’s children “up for success.”
The director also highlighted the “immediate impact” on children’s lives and the assurance that “they have what they need to grow and thrive.”
By the end of October, the state’s five racetrack casinos generated nearly $212 million in revenue, $66 million more than in 2024. The tracks also earned around $36.5 million from horse racing in the first 10 months of the year, nearly reaching the top full-year figure of $37.7 million.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com