Blab Sports
Nebraska Ballot Push for Online Sports Betting Gains Momentum as Signatures Filed
Tax Relief Nebraska, the committee that has been driving the state’s online sports‑betting campaign, filed the required signatures with the secretary of state’s office on June 26. The signatures support two separate ballot initiatives that would place online sports betting on the November 2026 ballot. The first is a constitutional amendment that would authorize laws governing online sports betting. The second is an initiated state statute that would give the Nebraska Gaming Commission the authority to adopt rules and regulations for online sports‑betting operators and wagers.
Nebraska currently allows sports betting only at its 21 horse‑racetrack sportsbooks, which opened in June 2023 after the legislature passed a 2021 law authorizing the activity. The online betting proposals are backed by major industry players, including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics. According to the group’s filings, the signatures collected far exceed the thresholds required for both measures.
The amendment requires signatures from 10 % of registered voters, or about 125,690 signatures, while the statute requires 7 % or roughly 87,983 signatures. In addition, the initiative must gather signatures from 5 % of voters in 38 of the state’s 93 counties. The signatures filed by Tax Relief Nebraska meet all of these criteria. The deadline for petitioners to submit signatures is July 2.
"Based on the feedback we've received so far, we're optimistic that if we're on the ballot in November, we should see legalized mobile sports betting after that," said Lynne McNally, head of government relations for WarHorse Casinos. The statement reflects the support that the industry has for the measure.
Opposition voices have highlighted potential social costs. Mike Sciandra of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling said, "Research has shown that mobile sports betting is four times more addictive than other forms of casino gambling. So if we use that logic there, we need to be funding probable gambling treatment at a much higher level than that 2.5%. I understand the reasoning for wanting to bring mobile sports betting to the state from a revenue standpoint, but we cannot ignore the social costs that would come from bringing mobile sports betting into the state."
The legal backdrop for the initiative is the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the federal ban on online sports betting, allowing each state to regulate the activity. At the time of writing, 39 states authorize sports betting, and 30 of those states allow it on online platforms.
Nebraska’s ballot will also feature a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that would change the term limit for state legislators from two consecutive four‑year terms (eight years) to three consecutive terms (12 years). The measure was defeated in 2012 by a margin of 35.4 % in favor to 64.6 % against.
In addition to the two online betting initiatives, 12 ballot measures were filed in the state this election cycle. As of July 1, another campaign, Fairness for Girls, has reported submitting signatures for an initiative that would require schools to designate sports teams as male, female, or co‑ed and prohibit male participation on female teams.
The outcome of the online sports‑betting measures will have significant implications for Nebraska’s gambling industry, potential tax revenue, and public‑health resources. If approved, the state would become one of the few that allow both retail and mobile sports betting, potentially attracting additional operators and increasing competition. Conversely, the measure could trigger increased funding for problem‑gambling treatment programs, as noted by the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling.
The November ballot will determine whether Nebraska voters approve the constitutional amendment and the state statute. If both measures pass, the state gaming commission will be tasked with establishing the regulatory framework for online sports betting. Until then, sports betting will remain limited to the state’s racetrack sportsbooks.
The measure’s supporters emphasize the potential for new revenue streams and economic growth, while opponents caution about the heightened risk of gambling addiction and the need for adequate treatment funding. The debate will continue in the months leading up to the election as voters weigh the benefits and risks of expanding online sports betting in Nebraska.
Nebraska currently allows sports betting only at its 21 horse‑racetrack sportsbooks, which opened in June 2023 after the legislature passed a 2021 law authorizing the activity. The online betting proposals are backed by major industry players, including BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics. According to the group’s filings, the signatures collected far exceed the thresholds required for both measures.
The amendment requires signatures from 10 % of registered voters, or about 125,690 signatures, while the statute requires 7 % or roughly 87,983 signatures. In addition, the initiative must gather signatures from 5 % of voters in 38 of the state’s 93 counties. The signatures filed by Tax Relief Nebraska meet all of these criteria. The deadline for petitioners to submit signatures is July 2.
"Based on the feedback we've received so far, we're optimistic that if we're on the ballot in November, we should see legalized mobile sports betting after that," said Lynne McNally, head of government relations for WarHorse Casinos. The statement reflects the support that the industry has for the measure.
Opposition voices have highlighted potential social costs. Mike Sciandra of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling said, "Research has shown that mobile sports betting is four times more addictive than other forms of casino gambling. So if we use that logic there, we need to be funding probable gambling treatment at a much higher level than that 2.5%. I understand the reasoning for wanting to bring mobile sports betting to the state from a revenue standpoint, but we cannot ignore the social costs that would come from bringing mobile sports betting into the state."
The legal backdrop for the initiative is the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the federal ban on online sports betting, allowing each state to regulate the activity. At the time of writing, 39 states authorize sports betting, and 30 of those states allow it on online platforms.
Nebraska’s ballot will also feature a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that would change the term limit for state legislators from two consecutive four‑year terms (eight years) to three consecutive terms (12 years). The measure was defeated in 2012 by a margin of 35.4 % in favor to 64.6 % against.
In addition to the two online betting initiatives, 12 ballot measures were filed in the state this election cycle. As of July 1, another campaign, Fairness for Girls, has reported submitting signatures for an initiative that would require schools to designate sports teams as male, female, or co‑ed and prohibit male participation on female teams.
The outcome of the online sports‑betting measures will have significant implications for Nebraska’s gambling industry, potential tax revenue, and public‑health resources. If approved, the state would become one of the few that allow both retail and mobile sports betting, potentially attracting additional operators and increasing competition. Conversely, the measure could trigger increased funding for problem‑gambling treatment programs, as noted by the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling.
The November ballot will determine whether Nebraska voters approve the constitutional amendment and the state statute. If both measures pass, the state gaming commission will be tasked with establishing the regulatory framework for online sports betting. Until then, sports betting will remain limited to the state’s racetrack sportsbooks.
The measure’s supporters emphasize the potential for new revenue streams and economic growth, while opponents caution about the heightened risk of gambling addiction and the need for adequate treatment funding. The debate will continue in the months leading up to the election as voters weigh the benefits and risks of expanding online sports betting in Nebraska.
