Six Nebraska bars have licenses suspended for illegal gambling

LINCOLN, Neb. - Six Nebraska bars have had their liquor licenses suspended for operating illegal gambling devices as part of a continuing crackdown by the Nebraska State Patrol.

The state Liquor Control Commission issued the suspensions on Monday and Tuesday, which ranged from 20 days to 40 days. Two other bars had their hearings continued.

The bars that had their licenses suspended were: The Glass Bar, The Super Bowl, Fitzgerald's 4th Street Tavern and The Sportsman's Bar in Grand Island; The Rock in Alda; and My Way Lounge in Omaha.

Possessing an illegal gambling device is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Commission executive director Forrest Chapman said many of the bars being cited have machines that can be switched back and forth from legal to illegal devices if they suspect undercover officers are around.

"They apparently are profitable enough that people keep giving it a try," he said.

Illegal gambling and competition from casinos in neighboring states is taking a toll on bingo, pickle cards, keno and raffles for charity in Nebraska.

Bars cited for having illegal gambling on site face a 20-day license suspension on the first offense. They can lose their license on the second offense.

Deputy Attorney General Laurie Smith Camp said there has been a recent increase in the number of complaints about illegal gambling - particularly video machines - in bars.

State Tax Commissioner Mary Jane Egr said the amount spent on the charitable games fell $14 million - or about 5 percent - to $269 million during the last fiscal year.

Taxes on such gambling activities fell to $5.9 million, only the second time in the past 10 years they dropped below $6 million, she said.

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