Nebraska Will Vote on Legalizing Online Sports Betting on November 3

Nebraska will decide in the general election whether to legalize online sports betting, with the measure now on the November 3 ballot. If voters approve it, the state would add another statewide mobile market on top of the retail betting already allowed at casinos and racetracks.

1. If the proposal passes, Nebraska would become the 33rd state to legalize statewide mobile sports wagering. The measure would allow up to 12 statewide mobile sportsbooks, with each of Nebraska’s six gaming facilities eligible for two operators, although not every available license is expected to be filled.
2. Tax Relief Nebraska, the main supporter of legalization, has to file its first general election campaign finance report by October 5. That filing should show how much sportsbooks and other backers are spending on the ballot fight, which is the part that matters if you are watching where the money is going ahead of November.
3. Officials from Tax Relief Nebraska say the initiative would bring new revenue to local communities and provide millions of dollars in property tax relief. The campaign also says major sportsbooks have already contributed more than $7 million to the signature-gathering effort, so the financing for the election campaign is likely to follow the same path.
4. FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, and BetMGM are expected to pursue licenses after each contributed to the signature-gathering campaign. Caesars is also likely to seek a mobile license, since it operates a Nebraska gaming facility and already has a branded retail sportsbook at the property.
5. Opposition is already organized. The Nebraska Family Alliance has emerged as one of the leading groups against the measure, while State Auditor Mike Foley and Treasurer Joey Spellerberg have joined the Save Nebraska Sports initiative. That group argues the change would undermine the integrity of college sports in Nebraska.

The college-sports carveout is already part of the proposal: online wagers on Nebraska college teams would be prohibited when those teams play games within the state, but betting on the same teams would still be allowed when they play outside Nebraska. Nebraska is currently the only state with legal sports betting that draws that line.