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Efforts to expand Nebraska sports betting beyond casino floors are moving into the signature‑gathering phase, as backers prepare for a citizen‑initiated ballot measure in 2026. With legislative proposals stalled by procedural hurdles, casino interests and reform advocates are turning to public votes to authorize online wagering statewide. Under state law, the initiative must collect certified signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters — currently about 125,786 names — to place a constitutional amendment before voters.
Nebraska now permits sports wagers only in person at licensed casino locations, taxed at 20 percent. Earlier this year, State Senator Eliot Bostar introduced LR20CA, which would have allowed online Nebraska sports betting under a constitutional amendment. He forecast that the expansion could produce roughly $32 million in new tax revenue over two and a half years. The measure initially passed committee and succeeded in a first round of floor voting, 27‑16, but failed to advance further because the unicameral legislature’s rules require a two‑thirds majority in three separate rounds. Opponents used a filibuster to block further progress.
Industry officials say the legislative deadlock forces their hand. Lynne McNally of WarHorse Casinos, which operates sportsbooks in Omaha and Lincoln, warned that tax revenue is flowing out of Nebraska as bettors use VPNs or place bets across state lines in Iowa, Kansas or Colorado. Some legislators oppose placing the issue directly into voters’ hands. Senator John Cavanaugh, who has reservations about expanding sports wagering, argued that the legislature should retain control over regulation rather than cede that power through an amendment. Others contend a citizen‑led ballot measure could prevent detailed oversight or impose a less balanced regulatory system.
Critics of expanded Nebraska sports betting also point to social risks, warning that mobile access could increase addiction, especially among younger users. They question whether claimed tax windfalls would translate into meaningful relief for homeowners’ property tax burdens. If organizers succeed in qualifying the amendment, the 2026 ballot would mark a turning point in Nebraska’s gambling policy. Either voters will decide to legalize mobile sports wagering or legislators will have another chance to revisit comprehensive regulation.
