Nebraska election officials are reviewing petitions that could place online sports betting before voters in the 2026 general election, after Tax Relief Nebraska submitted roughly 350,000 signatures for two related ballot initiatives.
The campaign filed more than 201,000 signatures for a constitutional amendment and 146,000 for a statutory measure. The amendment total is above the estimated 127,054 signatures required, but the petitions must still be validated before either measure can qualify for the November 3 ballot.
Nebraska permits sports betting only in person at licensed racetrack casinos. Retail wagering has been available since 2023, after the state legalized sports betting through LB 561 in 2021. Online wagering remains prohibited under constitutional limits.
The proposed constitutional amendment would allow authorized gaming operators, or their contracted platform providers, to offer online sports betting under the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act. If approved, online betting would be available to people 21 and older. Each casino could have up to two sportsbook partners, allowing as many as 10 online sportsbooks statewide.
Nebraska required constitutional amendment petitions to include valid signatures from at least 10% of registered voters as of the July 3 deadline. The campaign also must meet a geographic requirement, with valid signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in 38 of the state’s 93 counties. The related statutory proposal requires signatures from 7% of voters.
The statutory initiative would direct 70% of online sports betting revenue to property tax credits, matching the allocation model used for casino taxes. The statute would be redundant unless voters also approve the constitutional amendment.
Supporters argue Nebraska is losing potential revenue to neighboring states that already allow online or mobile betting, including Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Missouri. They also say the state’s retail-only market limits access for rural residents because Nebraska has only five casinos.
WarHorse Casinos has announced plans to partner with DraftKings and FanDuel if voters approve the measures. Lynne McNally, WarHorse Head of Government Relations and public spokesperson, said WarHorse is also in discussions with BetMGM.
“We’re optimistic that if we’re on the ballot in November, we should be seeing legalised mobile sports betting after that,” McNally said.
Nebraska’s in-person sports betting market generated about $9.3 million in 2025, according to the American Gaming Association. Supporters estimate mobile betting could generate more than $30 million annually in gaming taxes.
Opponents warn that online wagering could increase gambling addiction risks and question whether added tax revenue would offset social costs. Responsible gambling advocates have raised concerns about app-based access, advertising and in-game micro-bets, especially among young adults.
The debate comes after the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission launched a statewide self-exclusion program with idPair in December, expanding voluntary exclusion options across regulated venues.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/07/06/125237-nebraska-online-sports-betting-push-heads-to-signature-review-for-2026-ballot
