Nebraska casinos and national sports betting operators have launched a campaign to bring digital sports wagering to voters after legislative efforts stalled last year. While in-person sports betting has been legal since 2023, residents cannot place wagers on mobile devices or online platforms.
Lynne McNally, government relations director for WarHorse Casino, said Nebraska is missing out on substantial tax revenue. “We contributed $66 million in taxes last year between Lincoln and Omaha. This would probably be close to a hundred million dollars when you include mobile sports betting as well,” she said. Revenue from the initiative would largely support property tax relief.
Legislative Hurdles
Lawmakers considered expanding digital sports betting in 2025, but proposals faltered. State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha urged action, saying, “Let’s bring in resources at a time when it’s desperately needed, desperately needed, let’s collect revenue on something that is absolutely already happening.” Bill sponsor Eliot Bostar withdrew his constitutional amendment three and a half hours into a Senate filibuster. The other bills in the package also failed to progress.
Despite prior setbacks, some lawmakers may revisit the issue in the 2026 session, which opened Jan. 7. In-person wagering remains restricted, and Nebraskans wishing to bet on local teams must cross state lines to place legal bets.
Initiative Approach
The ballot campaign seeks to allow digital sports betting tied to licensed horse racing facilities. The proposed 20% tax on online wagers would contribute to property tax relief. McNally explained, “The CA is very simple it just says that you can take online wagers in affiliation with a licensed race track enclosure so that’s the CA real simple. The statute changes a few technical items we’re looking to go out in the field the next couple of weeks.”
The initiative is backed by major sportsbook operators, state casinos, and Nebraska’s horsemen’s group. McNally added, “There is a distinct appetite for sport digital sports betting in Nebraska, it polls very high. If we can add to property tax relief, we would like to do that. … We would love to get this past the finish line and give people the opportunity to bet the same way that people in more than 30 other jurisdictions have now.”
Opposition And Ballot Requirements
Neighboring states like Iowa already permit mobile sports betting, prompting Nebraskans to place online bets elsewhere. “We want to keep the money in Nebraska again that’s what we’d like to do,” McNally said. Anti-gambling advocate Pat Loontjer, whose group testified against digital sports betting last year, plans to oppose the initiative, warning it could increase addiction risks, especially for young people.
In Nebraska, proponents must collect signatures from 7% of registered voters for statutory changes and 10% for constitutional amendments, with distribution requirements across at least 39 of the state’s 93 counties. Signatures are due by early July to meet the Nov. 3 election deadline. Once verified, the initiative could allow residents to wager online while keeping platforms tethered to racetrack facilities.
Casinos and operators hope a voter-approved initiative will provide a permanent solution to digital sports betting, an option that legislators have so far been unable to authorize.
Source:
“Casinos launch petition drive for digital sports betting in Nebraska”, wowt.com, January 13, 2026
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