2024 total wagering in Clay County down by just over 25 percent compared to 2023
Gaming in Clay County, according to the 2024 Charitable Gaming annual report, which covers the State of Nebraska’s fiscal year from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, released by the Nebraska Department of Revenue has seen a sharp decline in total gaming proceeds as compared to the 2023 annual report.
Overall gaming county wide, which includes bingo, pickle cards, lottery/ raffle, and keno fell just over $181,000 from 2023 to 2024, which equates to a 25.1 percent drop from the 2023 charitable gaming report.
The 2023 annual report showed that $723,051 was wagered in Clay County, compared to $541,569. Much of that decline can be related to Maury’s Place in Sutton being closed for over one year, due to the July 29, 2023 EF-1 tornado forcing the Sutton establishment to undergo major renovations after the tornado. Maury’s Place has since reopened to the public.
KENO COMPARISON
Reports out of both Harvard and Sutton, related to just the play of Keno in both communities showed that Harvard had a small increase in Keno wagering from 2023 to the 2024 report. In 2023, Harvard’s wagering totaled $286,778, and this past fiscal year, Harvard’s wagering increased to $289,435, a difference of $2,657.
In contrast, Keno wagering in Sutton fell off pace by $127,339 during the two comparison years of play.
In 2023, Keno wagering in Sutton was $322,483, while this past fiscal year of 2024, wagers fell off to $195,144, a 39.5 percent difference.
PICKLE CARD PLAY
Department of Revenue numbers also show that pickle card play in Clay County had a nearly $20,000 shortfall compared to 2023. In 2023, Clay County pickle card play sales reached $75,924, while this past fiscal year pickle card play dropped to $56,690, a difference of $19,234, or a 25.3 percent drop from 2023.
AREA GAMING COMPARISONS In and around Clay County showed that Adams, Fillmore, Hamilton, Nuckolls, and York Counties all showed declines in total gaming from 2023 to 2024.
• Adams County showed an overall $364,087 decline in wagering between 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Adams County gaming had a total of $4,089,385 wagered, while this past fiscal year, wagering dropped to $3,725,298;
• Fillmore County had a $130,276 decline in wagering, from $627,418 in 2023, to $497,142 last year, marking a decline of 20.8 percent;
• Hamilton County’s wagering fell off pace from the 2023 fiscal year by a mere 3.99 percent, dropping from $241,855 in 2023 to $232,195 in the 2024 annual report;
• Nuckolls County had a $114,884 drop off in wagering during the 2024 fiscal year, dropping from $409,973 in 2023 to $295,089 in 2024, marking a 28 percent drop off from the previous year; and
• York County had a decline of $85,604, as compared to 2023. In 2023, York County wagering was right at $464,824, while this past fiscal year, wagering fell off pace to $379,220, an 18.4 percent decrease.
STATE GAMING COMPARISONS Statewide, total wagering between 2023 and 2024 in Nebraska dropped 3.4 percent, or $13,318,812.
In 2023, total wagering was $384,779,512, while during the 2024 fiscal year, wagering fell to $371,460,700.
Keno alone witnessed wagering fall 3.6 percent, or $12,982,430.
Keno wagering in 2023 reached $357,106,237, while in 2024, wagering was down to $344,123,807.
