FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 7, 2005

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary J. Egr Edson, State Tax Commissioner
402/471-5604
James Haynes, Director of Charitable Gaming
402/471-5813

CHARITABLE GAMING ACTIVITY
APRIL 1 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2005 and FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2005

LINCOLN -- The Nebraska Department of Revenue Charitable Gaming Division reports that total dollars wagered on charitable gaming activities for the period April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005 were $60,574,288 which is an overall 6.8% decline from the previous quarter. Compared to the same period in 2004, the amount wagered for the quarter ending June 30, 2005, represents a 4.0% decrease. Total dollars wagered on charitable gaming activities for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 were $251,889,510 which is 3.1% less than the previous fiscal year when $259,931,190 were wagered.

County/city lottery (keno), the highest grossing charitable gaming activity, decreased 6.9% from the previous quarter with gross wagering of $43,970,587. This was also a decrease of 2.1% from the same quarter in 2004. Total wagering on keno for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 of $181,255,946 was .5 % less than the previous fiscal year when $182,190,233 was wagered.

Pickle cards gross proceeds were $12,118,385 for the quarter. This is a 7.3% decrease from the previous quarter and a 9.2% decrease from the same quarter in 2004. Pickle card gross proceeds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 were $50,819,571 which represents an overall decrease of 11.6% as compared to the previous fiscal year when pickle card gross proceeds were $57,510,542. The total number of pickle card units sold in fiscal year 2004-05 was 24,984 as compared to 28,073 in 2003-04.

Bingo gross receipts of $3,200,088 for the quarter were down 7.3% from the previous quarter and were also 14% less than the same quarter in 2004. Bingo gross receipts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 were $14,268,212 compared to $15,370,116 for the previous fiscal year which is a decline of 7.2%.

Lottery/raffle activity was the lowest in gross wagering at $1,285,228. This was an increase of 2% from the previous quarter and a 15.4% increase from the same quarter in 2004. The total dollars wagered on lottery/raffle activities for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 were $5,545,781 which is a 14% increase from the previous fiscal year amount of $4,860,299.

The highest amount wagered on charitable gaming activities in Nebraska was during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994. Comparing this peak year to the 12 months ending June 30, 2005, the decreases in pickle card gross wagering were 71%, in bingo 42 %, and in keno more than 11%.

Combined charitable gaming activities generated taxes, license, and registration fees of $1,348,926 for the last reporting quarter. Of that amount, $53,459 were license and registration fees. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, total charitable gaming tax receipts were $5,399,165 which is 3.7% less than the previous fiscal year. Total license and registration fees were $287,359 as compared to $412,365 in fiscal year 2003-04.

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APPROVED:
Mary J. Egr Edson
State Tax Commissioner