On Super Bowl Sunday, a seemingly ordinary Iowa exit ramp near Council Bluffs was crowded with cars from Nebraska. Drivers stayed inside their vehicles, phones in hand, while no businesses or services were nearby. The unusual scene reflects the differing sports betting regulations between the two states.
Nebraska restricts online sports betting, whereas Iowa has allowed it since 2019. This legal gap has led Nebraskans to park on the shoulder and place wagers from their mobile devices. “There are literally lines of cars parked up next to the field. People pull into the shoulder, stop their cars, put on their hazards, place their bets, and then promptly turn around and drive back to Nebraska,” John Pappas, Senior Advisor to GeoComply said.
GeoComply Solutions, which monitors phone-based betting for security and compliance, reported over 400,000 geolocation checks from this Iowa cornfield during the 2025 football season. That figure represents roughly 10 percent of all Nebraska border crossings for NFL betting.
Legal Betting Sparks Debate
Supporters argue online sports wagering generates tax revenue and offers consumer protections. “When online betting became legal in Massachusetts, customers moved from offshore to onshore almost overnight,” said Ernie Ropas, Senior Director at Betting Hero. He added 57 percent switched immediately, with 73 percent doing so within a month.
Lance Morgan of Warhorse Casino noted, “In Nebraska, it’s super popular.” Morgan expects online sports betting to appear on the Nebraska ballot this fall, either through citizen signatures or legislative action. “The legislature could put it on the ballot themselves, which I would prefer actually, because then the state could control it. But it doesn’t look like there’s a political will to do that. And so DraftKings, FanDuel, and MGM — they’re part of our partners and part of a larger coalition. They’re going to basically put up the capital to put it on the ballot,” he said.
Proponents note Nebraska could capture revenue currently flowing to Iowa, while a legal framework protects consumers and monitors for fraud, contrasting with unregulated platforms.
Concerns and Human Behavior
Critics caution legalization risks financial harm for younger and lower-income bettors. “Nebraska is fortunate that we were not one of the early states that went over the cliff on this issue. By not legalizing online sports gambling, we are actively holding back a wave of financial harm, of addiction, of broken families that is taking place in other states,” said Nate Grasz with Nebraska Family Alliance.
Despite warnings, the Cornfield Crew shows people will go to great lengths for legal betting. Travelers intentionally pass through states permitting online sportsbooks. One punter said, “I’ve gone to a physical sportsbook before where you wait in line, it’s time-consuming… but the ability to drive over here, park, browse at your own leisure, place your bets, and then leave, it’s much more convenient.”
Historian David G. Schwartz notes gambling has deep roots, suggesting the desire to take risks won’t disappear. With 30 states allowing online sports betting, Nebraska residents are crossing borders to place bets.
Source:
“EXCLUSIVE: Why Nebraskans drive to Iowa exit ramp to place sports bets”, wowt.com, February 9, 2026
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