Nebraska anti-gambling group toughens stance against sports betting

Pat Loontjer, Nebraska’s leading anti-gambling advocate, has voiced her concerns about the new developments following the US Supreme Court’s ruling that could pave way for betting to flourish in the country. As per the new ruling, individual states can decide whether or not to allow sports betting.

Loontjer, who founded the organisation Gambling with the Good Life, said she will keep on fighting any kind of expanded gambling.

Loontjer says: “I’m concerned about anybody who gambles or has any other addiction and brings it back to the state. I wish it wasn’t around us.  I wish we weren’t surrounded but we have been and have been able to keep the “Good Life State”.   We’ve managed to set our priorities and quality rather than see the dollar signs of what it might bring in.”

Nebraska is running a budget deficit and lawmakers are always looking for ways to fill that. Loontjer says she will be monitoring the Unicameral for any proposal to expand gambling in the state and will be ready to take the issue on if it comes up.