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Senate advances bill to allow age-controlled lottery vending machines
Summary
LB 60, which would permit Nebraska lottery tickets to be sold from age-verified vending machines, advanced to E & R initial after proponents stressed retailer convenience and opponents raised social-harm concerns; supporters cited projected revenue gains.
The Nebraska Senate advanced LB 60, a bill to allow lottery tickets to be sold through age-restricted vending machines, saying the change would aid retailers and could modestly increase proceeds to education and other beneficiaries.
Senator Quick introduced LB 60, saying the change modernizes the Nebraska State Lottery by permitting secure vending machines that verify a buyer’s age via a scanned Nebraska driver’s license bar code. Quick told colleagues the machines are stand-alone, age-controlled and require in-person age verification for redemption.
Senator Holcroft, whose committee reported the bill 8–0, said retailers (grocers, convenience stores) and the State Fair supported the change; he cited testimony estimating about a $500,000 revenue increase from vending machines. Senator Abel outlined a three‑year projection presented in committee testimony that estimated $598,000 in fiscal year 2026–27, $818,000 in 2027–28 and $838,000 in 2028–29, for roughly $1.7 million over three years.
Opponents flagged social and equity concerns. Senator Clements said gambling disproportionately affects low-income people and urged a no vote based on social harms; he also questioned placement and whether casinos would be affected.
Quick described safeguards: machines would be sited where alcohol is not consumed, the license barcode would verify age at purchase, and winning tickets still require cashier verification before cash redemption.
The Senate voted to advance LB 60 to E & R initial; the Clerk recorded the result and announced the bill advanced.
