Two petitions are currently pending verification, allowing Nebraska voters to potentially decide on the legalization of online sports betting this coming November.
The movement to legalize online sports betting in Nebraska has progressed significantly, with supporters submitting around 350,000 signatures across two initiative petitions, surpassing the necessary thresholds for certification.
As reported by Nebraska Public Media, the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office revealed that a group named Tax Relief Nebraska submitted over 201,000 signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment to authorize online sports betting, along with an additional 146,000 signatures for related legislation to establish a regulatory framework.
The total number of signatures collected far exceeds the required amounts, with approximately 126,000 valid signatures needed for the constitutional amendment and about 88,000 for the statutory initiative. County election officials are now tasked with verifying these signatures. Following this, Secretary of State Robert Evnen will assess whether the measures qualify for the November ballot.
The proposed constitutional amendment aims to legalize online sports betting, while the accompanying legislation seeks to create a regulatory framework for this activity in the state. Currently, Nebraska permits sports betting only in-person at licensed racetrack casinos.
Under the new proposal, each authorized gaming operator would be allowed to collaborate with up to two online sportsbook platforms, with all mobile bets managed through servers located within Nebraska. Given that there are five licensed retail sportsbook operators in the state, this proposal could enable up to 10 online sports betting platforms.
The initiative mandates that the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission establish implementing regulations by June 1, 2027. If the voters approve these measures, the law would come into effect on January 1, 2027.
Furthermore, the statutory initiative would allocate 70% of the tax revenue generated from online sports betting towards property tax relief, aligning with the current rate applied to casino tax revenue.
This year, lawmakers also contemplated expanding online sports betting through two carryover bills during the legislative session, but neither bill progressed. Consequently, supporters opted to pursue a ballot initiative, reminiscent of Missouri’s successful campaign in 2024.
The campaign is supported by WarHorse Casinos and the Sports Betting Alliance, which includes major players like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, and bet365.
Lynne McNally, WarHorse's Director of Government Relations, mentioned that the campaign faced minimal opposition once petition circulators differentiated their proposal from other initiatives seeking signatures.
Currently, the campaign is awaiting the completion of the verification process before the measures can be certified for the ballot. If the initiatives receive voter approval, WarHorse has previously indicated plans to collaborate with DraftKings and FanDuel.
Proponents argue that legalizing online sports betting would enable Nebraska to reclaim wagering and tax revenue that is currently being directed to neighboring states. Five out of Nebraska's six neighboring states—Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming—already permit online sports betting.
Conversely, opponents contend that statewide mobile wagering could exacerbate problem gambling issues and that the additional tax revenue would not compensate for the associated social costs.