Urgent: Help Stop Hastings Casino Proposal

We need you to help protect families in Central Nebraska.

The Hastings City Council is set to vote on a proposal to build a casino on the north end of Hastings at their next meeting on Monday, November 14th, and it is critical that they hear from you.

Casino gambling harms families, exploits the poor, preys on the vulnerable, and creates social and economic costs that ruin lives, families, businesses, and communities. But gambling operators don’t pay for these harms—taxpayers do.

A casino in Hastings will take more money away from local businesses while increasing gambling, crime, and addiction.

Tragically, law enforcement agencies continue to identify casinos as hot spots for human trafficking. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice specifically named casinos in their “National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking Report” as a location where traffickers will often target children.

This is not what we need for Nebraska.

Please help protect families and children in our state. If you live in Hastings, the Tri-Cities area, or surrounding communities, this decision will impact you and your family.

1. Click here to contact the Hastings Mayor and City Council. A sample message is below. Select 2-3 talking points and personalize your message, urging them not to approve the construction of a casino in Hastings.

2. Consider attending the city council meeting and giving public comment in opposition to the casino proposal. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 14th, at 5:30 PM at the Hastings City Hall Council Chambers (220 N Hastings Ave).

3. Share this information with your family, neighbors, and church, and encourage them to take action.

SAMPLE TALKING POINTS

I am contacting you to urge you not to approve the proposal to build a casino in Hastings. 

• • A casino in Hastings will come at an enormous cost to our families and citizens. 

  • Casino gambling exploits the poor and vulnerable while creating social and economic costs that can ruin lives, families, and businesses. But gambling operators don’t pay for these harms—taxpayers do. 

  • With a casino now operating in Lincoln—and another already approved for Grand Island—building another casino in Hastings will only take more money away from our local businesses while increasing gambling, crime, and addiction within our own community. 

  • Casinos are also routinely identified as hot spots for human trafficking and lead to an increase in trafficking due to the environment and increased demand that accompany casinos. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice specifically named casinos in their “National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking Report” as a location where traffickers will often target children.

  • Casinos are designed for people to lose money, often by those who can least afford it. The house always wins. But in order for the house to win, it is your own constituents who will have to lose. 

The proposed casino will benefit the privileged few who run the games, not ordinary citizens. Please keep the interests of children and families first, and reject the proposed casino plans. 

Thank you for your public service and careful consideration.