License; terms and conditions; waiver or modification; revocation; relocation of racetrack; conditions.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 2-1205
in effect2-1205. License; terms and conditions; waiver or modification; revocation; relocation of racetrack; conditions.
(1) If the commission is satisfied that its rules and regulations and all provisions of sections 2-1201 to 2-1218 have been and will be complied with, it may issue a license to conduct a race or race meeting for a period of not more than three years. The license shall set forth the name of the licensee, the place where the races or race meetings are to be held, and the time and number of days during which racing may be conducted by such licensee. Any such license issued shall not be transferable or assignable. The commission shall have the power to revoke any license issued at any time for good cause upon reasonable notice and hearing. No license shall be granted to any corporation or association except upon the express condition that it shall not, by any lease, contract, understanding, or arrangement of whatever kind or nature, grant, assign, or turn over to any person, corporation, or association the operation or management of any racing or race meeting licensed under such sections or of the parimutuel system of wagering described in section 2-1207 or in any manner permit any person, corporation, or association other than the licensee to have any share, percentage, or proportion of the money received for admissions to the racing or race meeting or from the operation of the parimutuel system; and any violation of such conditions shall authorize and require the commission immediately to revoke such license. No licensee shall be considered in violation of this section with respect to an agreement with an authorized gaming operator regarding employees and the acceptance of any parimutuel wager or sports wager pursuant to section 9-1110.
(2)(a) Any racetrack for which a licensee is issued a license to conduct a race or race meeting under sections 2-1201 to 2-1218 which is in existence and operational as of April 20, 2022, shall:
(i) Hold a minimum of five live racing meet days and fifty live horseraces annually beginning January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030; and
(ii) Beginning January 1, 2031, hold a minimum of fifteen live racing meet days and one hundred twenty live horseraces annually.
(b) Any racetrack for which a licensee is issued a license to conduct a race or race meeting under sections 2-1201 to 2-1218 which is not in existence and operational until after April 20, 2022, shall:
(i) Hold a minimum of one live racing meet day annually for the first three years of operation;
(ii) Hold a minimum of five live racing meet days and fifty live horseraces annually for the fourth year of operation through the seventh year of operation; and
(iii) Beginning with the eighth year of operation, hold a minimum of fifteen live racing meet days and one hundred twenty live horseraces annually.
(c) A racetrack that fails to meet the minimum requirements under this subsection is subject to discipline by the commission, including revocation of the license issued under sections 2-1201 to 2-1218.
(3) Any holder of a racetrack enclosure license pursuant to section 2-1210 that is licensed to conduct a race or race meeting under this section may petition the commission to waive or modify the requirements of subsection (2) of this section. If the commission determines that such racetrack was unable to conduct the required number of days of live racing due to (a) natural event factors beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, fire, earthquake, tornado, or other weather events, or (b) racetrack conditions or other conditions making it unsuitable for running horseraces, the commission may waive or modify the requirements of subsection (2) of this section. The petition shall contain the reasons and justification for such waiver or modification and be submitted in writing to the executive director of the commission. A petition submitted more than seven days prior to the next scheduled meeting of the commission shall be taken up at such meeting. A petition submitted less than seven days prior to the next scheduled meeting of the commission shall not be required to be taken up at such meeting but shall be taken up at a following meeting.
(4) A racetrack for which a licensee is issued a license to conduct a race or race meeting under sections 2-1201 to 2-1218 in existence on November 1, 2020, which is located in the counties of Adams, Dakota, Douglas, Hall, Lancaster, and Platte, may move such racetrack location to another county in Nebraska that does not have a racetrack one time only, subject to approval by the commission as provided in subdivision (27) of section 9-1106, subsequent to the initial issuance of the market analysis and socioeconomic-impact studies conducted pursuant to section 9-1106.
Laws 1935, c. 173, § 5, p. 631; C.S.Supp.,1941, § 2-1505; R.S.1943, § 2-1205; Laws 1975, LB 599, § 1; Laws 1986, LB 1041, § 3; Laws 2022, LB876, § 5; Laws 2023, LB775, § 1; Laws 2025, LB357, § 8; Laws 2026, LB1001, § 1. Operative Date: July 1, 2026
Source: Nebraska Legislature (nebraskalegislature.gov)URL: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=2-1205Fetched: 10/20/2026