Pillen approves new head of Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission

Casey Ricketts is the new executive director of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission after Gov. Pillen approved her appointment Wednesday.

Ricketts had been the interim executive director of the commission since January. She was appointed after longtime head Tom Sage went on medical leave in January and officially retired in March.

"I'm going to keep doing the same thing I've been doing for the past nine months," Ricketts said Friday during the commission's monthly meeting. "Moving us forward. We're still building our agency and so I'm still working."

Ricketts' approval followed a nomination process by the Racing and Gaming Commission that involved three other finalists. Ricketts was recommended on Friday to become the permanent head of the commission.

"I think since I came aboard my main goal was to get out there, meet with the different associations in the industry," Ricketts said on Friday.

Ricketts said she has built relationships in the industry and has a solid foundation.

The Racing and Gaming Commission received a recommendation to approve Ricketts from an executive committee made up of commissioners Shane Greckel, Tony Fulton and Dennis Lee. The commission then voted unanimously to nominate Ricketts.

Commissioner Helen Abbott Feller said she was impressed with the applicants.

"They were really stellar," Feller said on Friday. "So again, I would like to comment to Casey that she did stand out even amongst the stellar applicants."

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