A new coalition has launched a campaign against two Nebraska ballot measures that would legalize and regulate online sports betting. Save Nebraska Sports announced its opposition at the State Capitol on September 10, ahead of the November 3 general election.
State Auditor Mike Foley, State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg, Nebraska Family Alliance Executive Director Nate Grasz and former Husker football coach Ron Brown participated in the event. The group raised concerns about the financial impact of expanded gambling and its potential effect on college athletes.
Grasz criticized the interests of online betting operators.
“They are seeking to make a profit at the expense of Nebraska families, businesses, fans and student athletes,” Grasz said.
Ballot Measures Would Expand Nebraska Betting
One measure would amend the section of Nebraska’s constitution that voters changed in 2020 to permit gambling and casinos at licensed racetracks. The proposed amendment would also authorize online sports wagering at those locations.
Nebraska has six licensed racetracks in Grand Island, Ogallala, Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus and South Sioux City.
A second measure would amend three state laws to define and regulate online sports betting. Bettors would need to be physically located in Nebraska when placing wagers, while servers hosting online wagering platforms would have to remain within the state.
Operators could conduct wagering through no more than two platforms at a time. If voters approve the measures, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission would have to adopt regulations by June 1, 2027.
Tax Relief Nebraska, which supports the initiatives, has said legalization would generate “new revenue for local communities and millions of dollars in property tax relief.”
Save Nebraska Sports disputes those projections.
Officials Question Property Tax Benefits
Foley argued that the tax revenue generated from online sports betting would provide little benefit compared with the amount wagered and the money flowing to operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
“As state auditor, I feel an obligation to inform the cities you’re being scammed on a false promise of property tax relief,” Foley said, “which is very sensitive to you. False promise of getting tax relief when you’re not going to get it.”
Spellerberg said an estimated $87 million in property tax relief would first require Nebraskans to lose more than $435 million through betting. He also warned that legalization would increase residents’ exposure to sports betting marketing.
“It will follow us onto our phones through apps, advertisements, promotions, notifications, day and night,” Spellerberg said, “and this matters because our kids are going to grow up in this environment.”
Brown also criticized the proposed expansion and compared the consequences of gambling with what “the cat dragged in” when he was younger.
“It was often a bloody rat. The bloody rats, to me, in this issue, are the consequences of gambling and online sports betting. The sharp claws of these endeavors have sadly dragged in the filth and disease of greed,” Brown said.
Student Athlete Concerns Join Campaign
Campaign participants also focused on the treatment of college athletes. Speakers cited recent NCAA survey findings showing that 36% of men’s basketball athletes had experienced social media abuse.
Former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne did not attend the event, but Grasz read a statement on his behalf.
“As a coach, I saw firsthand the immense pressure student athletes face,” Grasz read. “Some of the harshest criticism athletes receive is not for losing, but for failing to beat a point spread or reach a certain number of yards, completions or touchdowns. Online sports gambling turns an athletic contest into a gambling exercise with someone else’s money riding on the performance of young men and women.”
Save Nebraska Sports will campaign against both measures before the November election. Voters will decide whether Nebraska should expand the gambling framework approved in 2020 and establish a regulated system for online sports wagering within the state.
Source:
A new group called Save Nebraska Sports launches campaign against online sports betting, nebraskapublicmedia.org, September 10, 2026.
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