Nebraska voters could soon decide whether to bring online sports betting to the state after campaign organizers submitted petition signatures seeking to place two gambling measures on the November ballot.
The petitions, backed by Tax Relief Nebraska, were filed with the Secretary of State ahead of the state’s July 2 deadline. If enough valid signatures are verified, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to expand sports betting beyond the state’s existing retail-only market.
Proposal Would Expand Betting Beyond Racetracks
At the time of this story, Nebraska permits sports betting only at licensed racetrack casinos, following legislation approved in 2021 after voters legalized casino gambling at horse racetracks through constitutional initiatives in 2020. Retail sportsbooks eventually launched in June 2023, but mobile betting has remained prohibited.
The latest proposal seeks to change that through two separate initiatives. One would amend the state constitution to authorize legislation governing online sports betting, while the second would direct the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission to establish licensing rules and regulatory oversight for mobile sportsbook operators. Major sportsbook companies, including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics, are supporting the campaign.
WarHorse Casinos’ Head of Government Relations, Lynne McNally, said organizers are encouraged by early public feedback and remain optimistic that, if the measures qualify for the ballot, Nebraska could legalize statewide mobile sports betting following the November vote.
Signature Verification Now Becomes Key
To qualify, constitutional amendments require signatures from 10% of Nebraska’s registered voters, while statutory initiatives require 7%.
Based on the state’s latest voter registration figures, campaign organizers needed approximately 125,700 valid signatures for the constitutional measure and nearly 88,000 for the statutory proposal. Nebraska law also requires petitioners to meet geographic distribution thresholds across at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties.
Election officials will now verify whether both initiatives satisfy those requirements before certifying them for the ballot.
Debate Continues Over Expansion
Supporters argue legal mobile sportsbooks would modernize Nebraska’s gambling market and help retain betting revenue currently flowing to neighboring states with online wagering.
Opponents, however, continue to raise concerns about responsible gambling. Mike Sciandra of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling said research suggests mobile betting carries higher addiction risks than other forms of gambling and argued that any expansion should be accompanied by significantly greater funding for treatment and prevention programs.
If the measures qualify and get voters’ approval, Nebraska would join the growing list of states offering legal online sports betting. Since the repeal of the federal sports betting ban in 2018, 30 states have launched legal mobile sportsbooks, while Nebraska remains one of several jurisdictions that currently limit wagering to retail locations.