Crunch Time for Nebraska Sports Betting as Voting Day Arrives

The chances of an online Nebraska sports betting industry are in the balance as voters go to the polls today to have their say.

Clashing with the midterms, voters in Nebraska will get to vote on two amendments that would legalize online sportsbooks for the first time. Both initiatives would need to succeed for anything in the Legislature to change.

Under the proposals are a framework that would allow up to 10 online and mobile sports betting operators. Nebraska already has some retail sports betting, but only at licensed tracks.

Nebraska’s Long Journey to a Public Vote

The poll on whether Nebraska should legalize sports betting has come via a hard-fought campaign by Tax Relief Nebraska.

The Secretary of State’s office announced in August that the thresholds had been met to hold a public referendum on legislation. That time for voting is now, but it hasn’t been without fights as Senate hopefuls clash ahead of the midterms.

Under discussion are Initiative 440 and Initiative 441. The first initiative would officially regulate online sportsbooks in Nebraska. The second initiative sets up a legal framework within which sports betting sites can operate

Nebraska Sports Betting: What’s at Stake?

• Nebraska Initiative Measure 440: Authorizes online sports wagering in the state. Bets restricted to customers based inside Nebraska borders.
• Nebraska Initiative Measure 441: Permits the state gaming commission to govern online sports betting sites.
• Nebraska voters approved three ballot initiatives in 2020 that legalized sports betting at racetracks. The state legislature passed the new law a year later.
• The measures are supported by major operators, including BetMGM and DraftKings.

Election Hopefuls Distance Themselves

Despite the public betting vote, there seems to be little support from Republican leaders in Nebraska.

Ahead of today’s vote on sports betting, former Nebraska Governor Kay Orr withdrew her endorsement for Tim Anderson, the mayor of Sutton in Clay County. Orr was joined by Republicans, including Senator Pete Ricketts, over a $750,000 Anderson made to the pro-sports gambling initiative.

Orr said that Save Nebraska Sports, the anti-legalized gambling group in Nebraska, was “disappointed” with Anderson’s decision to “support online sports betting rather than protecting our young people and college sports.”

DraftKings, FanDuel Donations Emerge

The Initiatives are supported by some of the big U.S. sportsbooks, including DraftKings, BetMGM and FanDuel.

The Nebraska Examiner revealed that fundraising for the ballot races exceeded $26 million, most of it from New York and Massachusetts.

The campaign is being led by Tax Relief Nebraska, for which DraftKings and FanDuel have donated millions. Fanatics and MGM are among the other donors.

Republicans Favorites to Win in Nebraska

A shock Democratic win in Nebraska looks unlikely in either the race for the Senator or House.

Independent candidate Dan Osborn trails Pete Ricketts 67%–34% in the Kalshi midterms market right now, with over $7 million traded on the predictions market platform.

The race to become Nebraska governor also favors another anti-betting figure in Jim Pillen. He is an 89% chance to win ahead of the Democrats’ Lynne Walz.

Gov. Pillen has previously advocated legalizing sports betting, arguing that revenue could help fund property tax relief for ordinary Nebraskans. The road to legalized sports betting in Nebraska could look clearer this week.