Nebraska Lawmakers Urged to Consider Online Sports Betting Case

Nebraska at a Crossroads

It has been a year since Nebraska launched retail sports betting and casino grounds under the bill signed by former Governor Pete Ricketts in 2021. However mobile sports betting is still unavailable within the state, even despite studies suggesting that it could deliver an additional $30 million to the state budget.

Recently group of operators made a push toward online sports betting discussions. Ho Chunk Inc. asked Governor Pillen to consider the topic during the upcoming special session, as it requires authorizing the constitutional amendment. Lance Morgan of Ho Chunk Inc. explained “It’s additive. It’s not a tax shift. And so we think that’s a pretty viable option. And we’ve been proposing that to be part of this special session.”

The proposed amendment could be put on the November ballot, letting Nebraska residents decide on it. “We did a poll and 65% of the Nebraskans support it,” added Morgan.

Placing the amendment on the ballot requires 30 votes from lawmakers. KETV suggests that Governor Pillen is in favor of the idea.

Now or Never

Current regulations are definitely not a perfect solution, as Nebraska residents cross the border with Iowa to place online bets. Furthermore, players determined enough will always find a way to bet. If online sports betting is illegal within a state, players are often turning to black market operators. That results in nothing more than missed revenue opportunities for the state.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney acknowledges the problem and suggests that changes are inevitable. “Missed revenue that we’re missing out on because we want to be the ‘nanny state,'” McKinney said.

The upcoming special session is perfect opportunity to make a step in the right way. “We would not have another opportunity until November of 2026,” McKinney warns.