Nebraska Online Sports Betting Advocates Aim for Ballot Initiative

The Nebraska legislature’s 2026 session adjourned for the year in April. But online sports betting advocates aren’t giving up on bringing online betting to the Cornhusker State.

Two ballot initiative petitions are underway in Nebraska, both of which would be needed to make online sports betting in Nebraska a reality. The first would amend the constitution to legalize online sports betting throughout Nebraska’s borders. The second would regulate it, ensuring fairness for bettors and tax revenue for the state.

Sports betting is already available in Nebraska, but only at established brick-and-mortar casinos and racetracks. That locks out the western half of the state from gambling within state borders. All of Nebraska’s casinos are located near Omaha, Lincoln or Grand Island.

These three cities cover roughly two-thirds of the state’s population, which has proponents saying more options are necessary and opponents believing that online sports betting won’t do anything for Nebraska.

That disparity is best reflected between two legislators on opposite sides of the debate. Sen. Stanley Clouse (R-Kearney) has previously brought legislation to legalize online betting in Nebraska, but Sen. Brad von Gillern (R-Elkhorn) has said that the state wouldn’t get much new revenue to offset taxes.

“If people are voting for the online gambling initiative believing that it’s going to substantially change their property tax bill, they’re going to be sadly disappointed,” Von Gillern said.

Why Are Two Ballot Initiatives Needed for Online Sports Betting in Nebraska?

In order to bring sports betting to Nebraska, the state constitution would need to be amended. A constitutional amendment in Nebraska requires signatures from 10% of all eligible voters in Nebraska, about 125,000 people.

The second initiative would only take effect with an amended constitution. As it’s not a constitutional amendment, it only needs 7% of eligible votes, about 88,000 people. Additionally both petitions must collect at least 5% of eligible voters in 38 different counties out of the state’s 93. Nebraska also has a single-subject rule that limits amendments to one subject, requiring the two initiatives split into two petitions.

Jordan McGrain, one of the organizers of the petitions, has said his groups are ahead of schedule in meeting signature requirements. In order to qualify for the November election, enough valid signatures must be collected by July 3, four months before the election.

Where Did Nebraska’s Legislators Sit on Online Sports Betting?

Even though Clouse supports keeping revenue from online betting in Nebraska, he was in the minority. Most of Nebraska’s State Senate opposes legalizing online gambling, as does Nebraska attorney general Mike Hilgers.

Governor Jim Pillen is more of a pragmatic opponent of online sports betting. He’s said that he personally wouldn’t engage in betting, but he wants the state to have extra revenue from bettors. Currently, Nebraska loses online betting revenue to Iowa, Colorado and other neighbors, as South Dakota is the only state bordering Nebraska without online sports gambling.

Clouse has indicated that he is unlikely to try again if voters reject sports betting in Nebraska. Von Gillern, conversely, has said that if voters approve the initiatives, he will put aside his own feelings and ensure that online sports betting comes to Nebraska.

What Is the Future of Sports Betting in Nebraska?

If McGrain’s stance is accurate, both initiatives look likely to make the ballot in November. Both would need a simple majority vote to become law in the state.

It’s not entirely clear when sports betting in Nebraska would become a reality under these initiatives. Usually, online sportsbooks launch six months after approval from either the legislature or the voters.

From the petition, some restrictions on Nebraska online sports betting are known. The new legislation would not include bets on in-state college teams, meaning any event involving either the Nebraska Cornhuskers or the Creighton Bluejays would not be available for Nebraska bettors.

Additionally, each sportsbook would have to partner with one of the state’s existing brick-and-mortar casinos. Each casino could have a maximum of two online sportsbook partners.