Gambling Laws in Nebraska

Betting on chance or on a game, contest or election is unlawful gambling unless done under one of the state's gaming laws: the Nebraska Bingo Act, County and City Lottery Act (keno), Lottery and Raffle Act, Pickle Card Lottery Act, Small Lottery and Raffle Act, State Lottery Act, or the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act (§ 28-1101(4)). Under the Racetrack Gaming Act, licensed operators may offer games of chance, including slot machines, table games, card games, keno and sports wagering, within licensed racetrack enclosures regulated by the State Racing and Gaming Commission; sports wagering excludes in-game and individual-player bets on games involving Nebraska college teams (§ 9-1103). Playing an unlawful game by betting less than $500 in a day is promoting gambling in the third degree, a Class IV misdemeanor ($500 fine) (§ 28-1104); betting $500 or more in a day or small-scale bookmaking is a Class II misdemeanor (§ 28-1103); bookmaking or receiving $1,500 or more in a day is a Class I misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class IV felony for a second and a Class III felony after that (§ 28-1102).

Nebraska's rule on court-appointed lawyers: 'Indigent means the inability to retain legal counsel without prejudicing one's financial ability to provide economic necessities for one's self or one's family' (§ 29-3901(4)). Before a felony defendant's initial court appearance the public defender makes the indigency determination; after that, the court does. At the first appearance the judge advises the defendant of the right to court-appointed counsel if indigent; if the defendant asserts indigency, the court makes a reasonable inquiry into the defendant's financial condition and requires an affidavit of indigency, and if indigency is found it appoints the public defender or county conflict counsel (§ 29-3903). Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-3901, 29-3903

Lawyers set their own fees, and Nebraska has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Nebraska for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.

How release before trial works in Nebraska: 'Any bailable defendant shall be ordered released from custody pending judgment on his or her personal recognizance' unless the judge determines that release would not reasonably assure appearance or would jeopardize safety or the evidence (§ 29-901(1)). Defendants charged with certain Class IIIA, IV or V misdemeanors or ordinance violations must generally be released on recognizance or non-bond conditions, with listed exceptions (§ 29-901(2)). If recognizance is denied, the judge must consider the defendant's ability to pay and impose 'the least onerous' conditions that will reasonably assure appearance — supervised custody, travel or residence restrictions, or a bond; an appearance bond may be posted by a cash deposit with the clerk of a sum not to exceed ten percent of the bond amount (90% is returned after the case; minimum deposit $25) (§ 29-901(3)). Eligibility for release or supervision 'shall under no circumstances be conditioned upon the defendant's ability to pay,' and supervision fees must be waived for those unable to pay (§ 29-901(6)). Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-901 What happens after an arrest.

Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Nebraska expungement and record sealing rules.