Nebraska voters could decide the future of online sports betting later this year after campaigners submitted nearly 350,000 signatures in support of two ballot initiatives.
Tax Relief Nebraska has filed signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment and a companion statutory measure that would allow online sports betting in the state. Election officials must still verify the signatures before the measures can qualify for the November 3 ballot.
The constitutional amendment filing included more than 201,000 signatures, above the roughly 127,000 required, while the statutory measure was supported by around 146,000 signatures. The statute requires about 88,000 valid signatures to qualify. Campaigns must also meet Nebraska’s county distribution requirement.
Nebraska currently permits sports betting only in person at licensed racetrack casinos. Retail sportsbooks launched in 2023 after voters approved casino gambling at racetracks in 2020 and the state legislature subsequently authorised sports wagering.
The proposed framework would allow licensed gaming operators to partner with online sportsbook platforms, potentially giving the state up to 10 mobile betting brands. Each authorised gaming operator would be permitted to work with up to two online sportsbook partners, with the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission responsible for implementing regulations if voters approve the measures.
The campaign is backed by major US sportsbook operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Fanatics, underlining the commercial value operators see in converting Nebraska from a retail-only sports betting market into a mobile wagering state.
Supporters argue Nebraska is losing potential tax revenue to neighbouring states where mobile sports betting is already legal, including Iowa, Kansas and Colorado. They also say the current retail-only model limits access for customers outside the state’s casino locations.
Responsible gambling advocates have raised concerns about the potential social impact of expanding from venue-based betting to mobile wagering. Mike Sciandra, of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, has warned that the state would need higher levels of treatment funding if online sports betting is approved.
Nebraska’s retail sports betting market generated about US$9.3m in revenue last year, according to the American Gaming Association. Supporters of online betting have suggested mobile wagering could generate more than US$30m a year in tax revenue.
If the measures qualify, Nebraska would become one of the latest US states where voters, rather than lawmakers alone, decide whether to expand sports betting from retail venues to online platforms.
