Mayor Daub & Senator Jim Jenson spoke out against expanded gambling. The Nebraska Legislature had come within a few votes of placing an initiative on the ballot in the previous session.

The Govenor appointed a board to hold meetings seeking citizen input on expanded gambling. 50 people testified, 48 in favor, prior to the last meeting at Aksarben which was filled with 350 concerned citizens who testified until 11:00 PM. Many wanted to unite and fight against expanded gambling.

Gambling With The Good Life was organized and sent 2220 letters (to every church in Nebraska) urging pastors to inform their members and to write to their senators.

Mail poured into the Legislature, 4 to 1, against expanded gambling. Gambling With The Good Life also brought in the nationally known author Robert Goodman who wrote The "Luck Business".

Tom Grey, head of the "National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling", and Howard Buffett were brought in to speak throughout the state. The Legislature voted 36 to 9 against the proposal, despite 16 lobbyists being paid over $400,000.00.

Keno and Horse interests met to draw up a joint petition. They could not agree and were forced to run two separate petitions. Since they could not find enough Nebraska citizens willing to support their effort they broke the law and used out of state circulators who were payed up to $3.00 per signature.

Gambling With The Good Life formed a coalition of 47 various churches and organizations and began a state-wide media blitz to inform the public of the potential threat. Bill Jahoda, ex-Chicago mafia member was brought in to do public speaking.

Coach Tom Osborne spoke out publicly against the expanded gambling effort. He also instructed his players to avoid frequenting the Iowa Casinos altogether.

Efforts continued to educate the public by way of radio, TV, and newspaper interviews and along with hundreds of concerned citizens passed out thousands of "Think Before You Sign" information sheets.

There were more than enough signatures handed in. Judge ruled in their favor that non-resident collectors were legal.

Fraud was abundant in the petitions so they didn't make their quota. They went to court, Gambling With The Good Life challenged. The proposal was not placed on the ballot.

Nebraskans voted on the only gambling measure on the ballot. (Off track betting). Defeated soundly by 62% !!
Nebraska became the only state that had defeated expanded gambling four ways in one year.

1. In the Legislature
2. In the petition processs
3. In the courts
4. At the ballot box

Gambling With The Good Life has remained diligent and been actively educating the public by speaking at churches, schools and civic organizations. Gambling With The Good Life has also testified against every Legislative bill proposed that would have expand gambling and successfully stopped every one.

The greedy Bar, Keno and Race Track owners decided to use the petition process once agian to further their own interests and bring virtually unlimited video slot machines to our great state. They launched a proposal that will give themselves 50% of any profit, leaving the state the crumbs and the resulting problems. Circulators were payed $2 a signature and wore yellow shirts saying "Sign here for tax relief". This was a virtual lie yet many voters were deceived into signing what they thought was the roll back of the recent tax increase imposed by the Legislature.

Thousands of signatures were submitted to put the measure on the November ballot. These will need to be verified but the need to get the truth out about the devastation that will result from this horrible proposal cannot wait

A lawsuit was filed to challenge the validity of the petition. This is currently working it's way throught the judicial process.