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A bill introduced on behalf of Nebraska Gov. Pete Pillen would shut down the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling and move its work into the state Department of Health and Human Services, while trimming the program’s budget along the way.
LB 1072 proposes transferring the state’s problem gambling counseling operation to DHHS and reducing funding from $1.5 million to $900,000, according to reports.
LB 1072 is moving fast through legislature
Under the proposal, the commission that currently oversees the Gamblers Assistance Program would be eliminated, with services shifted to DHHS.
Supporters of the change haven’t yet laid out, publicly, how DHHS would absorb the workload with fewer dollars, fewer dedicated staff, or fewer specialized partnerships. Right now, the bill is sitting in committee and a hearing hasn’t been scheduled.
The bill is moving through the legislature early in the 2026 session. Legislative tracking shows it was introduced on Jan. 15 and later referred to the Appropriations Committee.
Why problem gambling advocates say the cut could hit families
People who work in the treatment space argue that cutting funding while reorganizing the system could mean fewer counselors available, longer waits, and less outreach, the exact opposite of what they say Nebraska needs right now.
“Without that treatment, I truly believe I would be dead or in jail at this point,” said Mike Sciandra, executive director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, warning the cut could ripple across families. “This is life or death for so many people out there. It’s beyond just being a behavioral issue, it is a public health issue.”
Dave Geier, who directs the program overseen by the commission, warned that demand is heading in one direction. “The need for this kind of service will just go up,” he said, pointing to the steady rollout of new gambling products and promotions.
Demand is rising as Nebraska’s gambling market changes
The concern isn’t just theoretical. In its March 2025 report to lawmakers, the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling said casino gambling and expanding sports betting have created “new challenges,” and it highlighted a jump in counseling activity tied to increased demand.
That same report said payments for counseling services rose to about $2.4 million for the period it covered, up from roughly $1.8 million in the prior period, a 33% increase the agency linked to more hours spent delivering counseling as demand climbed.
The report also noted that an average of 328 Nebraskans received counseling each month during the period it tracked, and that new admissions into long-term counseling increased over a two-year window.
Hearing date had not been set as of this week
For now, the bill’s path runs through the Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers will weigh whether moving the program into DHHS can be done without weakening the state’s safety net for people seeking help.
Source: WOWT
