A push to loosen gambling restrictions has fizzled this year in the Legislature despite claims that Nebraska could preserve jobs and tap the millions of dollars that are poured into Iowa and South Dakota casinos each year.

Lawmakers have killed bills this year to let gambling outlets run more keno games per hour, and a proposal that would allow machine bets on past horse races is facing a legislative filibuster. A proposed constitutional amendment that could have led to casino gambling near the Iowa border is also dead in committee.

Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher says gambling opponents have pressured lawmakers into defeating many of the proposals at a time
when the state could use the revenue. Opponents say expanded gambling would increase bankruptcies, divorces and other social problems.