Be fair about new gambling

As is too often the case, Central and Western Nebraska may be short-changed in the casino proposals which are pending before the Nebraska Legislature.

Hints of this were contained in a front page story in this morning's Omaha World-Herald.

In discussing a constitutional amendment that would allow five casinos in a two-mile zone inside Nebraska's border, the World-Herald's Robynn Tysver wrote: "Conceivably, all five could be in or near Omaha."

Sound familiar? It should. The majority rules, and in Nebraska that has come to mean that the heavier populated eastern end of the state gets nearly all of the political plums.

The constitutional amendment is an outgrowth of a proposal to permit casinos on the state's Indian reservations.

After being stalled for several years in committee, the constitutional amendment debate has finally made it to the floor of the Legislature. Still unanswered is whether the legislators will put the issue on the ballot, and -- if they do -- whether the voters will approve of having casinos in Nebraska.

By that time -- if it ever comes -- it will be a yes or no question: "Should Nebraska permit casinos on Indian reservations?," is one possibility for a ballot question. Another is "Should Nebraska allow casinos within a two-mile border zone to be operated by the state or by Indian tribes?" Either way, Central and Western Nebraska would get the short end of the stick. Geographically, we're stuck. There are not as many of us here as there are in eastern Nebraska, but we are just as entitled to access as they are.

Currently -- in order to visit casinos -- Western Nebraskans have to travel to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, the riverboat casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa, or the Blackhawk and Central City gambling establishments in Colorado.

For Southwest Nebraskans, that means traveling between 200 and 300 miles there and back to visit casinos.

Of course, the first thing Nebraskans must decide is whether or not they want casinos in the state in any form. It may take several years to finally resolve that issue.

But it is now, during the formative stages of casino amendment planning, that Nebraskans need to speak up about their views.

If there is to be casino gambling, we agree with this region's representative in the Legislature, State. Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton, that it should be opened up in the entire state, not just several favored regions such as Indian reservations and a zone in Omaha.

Sen. Baker is just one vote out of 49 in the Nebraska Legislature, but we need to let him know how we think so he can carry our views to the legislative halls in Lincoln.

Many other states have catered to the favored few -- principally large casino companies and Indian tribes-- when gambling is legalized. If Nebraska does take the plunge on casinos, all areas of the state should have an equal opportunity to participate.