INITIATIVE 417
(AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION)

OBJECT STATEMENT: TO CLARIFY THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROVIDE FOR GAMING BY INITIATIVE.

Article III Section 24 of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding Subsection (5) as shown:

(1) Except as provided in this section, the Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance or any lottery or gift enterprise when the consideration for a chance to participate involves the payment of money for the purchase of property, services, or a chance or admission ticket or requires an expenditure of substantial effort or time

(2) The Legislature may authorize and regulate a state lottery pursuant to subsection 3 of this section and other lotteries, raffles, and gift enterprises which are intended solely as business promotions or the proceeds of which are to be used solely for charitable or community betterment purposes without profit to the promoter of such lotteries, raffles, or gift enterprises.

(3) The Legislature may establish a lottery to be operated and regulated by the State of Nebraska. The proceeds of the lottery shall be appropriated by the Legislature for the costs of establishing and maintaining the lottery and for other purposes as directed by the Legislature. No lottery game shall be conducted as part of the lottery unless the type of game has been approved by a majority of the members of the Legislature.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (a) the enactment of laws providing for the licensing and regulation of wagering on the results of horseraces, wherever run, either within or outside of the state, by the parimutuel method, when such wagering is conducted by licensees within a licensed racetrack enclosure or (b) the enactment of laws providing for the licensing and regulation of bingo games conducted by nonprofit associations which have been in existence for a period of five years immediately preceding the application for license, except that bingo games cannot be conducted by agents or lessees of such associations on a percentage basis.

(5) This section shall not apply to laws enacted by the people by initiative measures by which the people may, contemporaneously with the adoption of this subsection or at any time thereafter, provide for the authorization, operation, regulation, and taxation of all forms of games of chance.