Nebraska Sports Betting Bid Ends for 2025, Citizen Effort Possible

Eliot Bostar withdrew LR20CA, a proposal that sought to place the legalization of online sports betting before voters in the 2026 general election.

Introduced earlier this year, LR20CA gained early momentum after ing the General Affairs Committee with bipartisan backing. The Nebraska Legislature initially moved the measure forward with a 27-16 vote, but momentum faltered during the second round of debate. Amid increasing opposition and a lack of sufficient from fellow lawmakers, Bostar requested that the measure be pulled.

Debate Over Gambling’s Social Impact Versus Economic Benefits

During floor discussions, concerns surrounding problem gambling dominated the arguments against LR20CA. Notably, former Nebraska football coach and ex-congressman Tom Osborne voiced strong objections, echoing worries about addiction, bankruptcy, drug abuse, and other societal harms. Former Governor Kay Orr also publicly opposed the bill.

Opponents’ concerns were further heightened by fears of a rise in gambling addiction, especially among young men, as pointed out by Sen. Brad von Gillern. ers of the measure, including Bostar and Sen. Dunixi Guereca, acknowledged these risks but stressed that Nebraskans were already betting across state lines or using offshore platforms, effectively denying Nebraska millions in potential tax revenue.

Bostar estimated that Nebraska forfeits around $32 million annually to neighboring states and offshore betting markets. Advocates emphasized that a regulated mobile betting framework could redirect this lost revenue toward public services while protecting consumers from unregulated operators.

Citizen-Led Ballot Initiative Emerges as a Path Forward

Although the legislative route for mobile sports betting has closed for now, industry stakeholders are exploring a different strategy. Under Nebraska’s constitution, a citizen-led initiative could still put the issue to a public vote. Achieving this requires gathering signatures from 10% of the state’s ed voters—approximately 125,000 valid signatures.

Major sportsbooks such as BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics, all of which backed LR20CA, may now look to such an initiative. These operators have previous experience funding similar campaigns in other states, and they could mobilize resources to drive the effort in Nebraska.

If successful, the measure could appear on the November 2026 ballot, and regulated mobile betting might launch in 2027, in time for the football season.

Nebraska’s Current Retail-Only Betting Landscape

Retail sports betting in Nebraska officially began in 2023 after voters approved casino gambling in 2020. However, wagering is only permitted at licensed casinos. Efforts to expand betting options within the state continue, as evidenced by Legislative Bill 63 introduced earlier this year by Sen. Tom Brandt.

LB 63 seeks to amend the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act to allow pre-match and live bets on in-state college sporting events played within Nebraska, including those involving the University of Nebraska and Creighton University. Currently, state law prohibits such wagers when games occur inside state borders.

Nebraska remains one of eight states where sports betting is permitted only in specific locations, without a statewide mobile option. The Cornhusker State’s unique rules allow betting on Nebraska teams only when they play outside the state, a restriction that would not have been directly addressed by LR20CA.

Sportsbooks like Caesars, which already operates a retail sportsbook in Nebraska, would likely have been among the first to pursue online licensing if LR20CA had ed. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics were also seen as likely entrants.

Although this year’s legislative effort has ended, the possibility of a future, voter-driven pathway to mobile sports betting in Nebraska keeps hope alive for bettors and operators alike.

Source:

Nebraska lawmakers over mobile sports gambling measure without vote, wowt.com, April 24, 2025.