Nebraska Sets Children “Up for Success” with Gambling Winnings

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has already gathered over $500,000 from gambling winnings via the newly implemented Gambling Winnings Setoff for Outstanding Debt Act. The amount was reached in the first three months of the program, which has been designed to collect money that is owed to the state from gamblers’ winnings. 

Guaranteeing Children’s Well-Being

The DHHS gathered over $200,000 that will be targeted toward child support arrears, which is unpaid child support that is past due and has accumulated over time. 

The Act was approved courtesy of lawmakers passing Legislative Bill 1317, which was ultimately signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen last year. Pillen explained that the program will guarantee that 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”

The collection of funds started on September 2, with operators of gambling venues given the green light to withhold part of the winnings obtained by individuals who have unpaid debts with the Cornhusker State. 

The respective funds were then remitted to the Department of Revenue (DOR), from where they were sent to a number of different agencies, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), DHHS, and DOR. 

Close to $530,000 reached the respective agencies within the first 13 weeks. The DHHS received exactly $215,852.98 for its Child Support Enforcement Program.

The director of the Office of Economic Assistance, Shannon Grotrian, explained that, by sending the money straight to the families that need it, the program is setting the children of Nebraska “up for success”. 

The director also commented on the “immediate impact” on children’s livelihoods, as well as the guarantee that “they have what they need to grow and thrive.”

In total, according to data collected by the end of October, the state’s five racetrack casinos had accumulated close to $212 million in revenue. The figure is $66 million higher than in 2024. 
The tracks also earned roughly $36.5 million from horse racing in the first 10 months of the year, aligned with the top full-year figure of $37.7 million.