Nebraska Sports Betting Hearing About Online Ops Fields Divided Testimony

Nebraska Sports Betting Hearing About Online Ops Fields Divided Testimony

On Monday in Lincoln, discussions took place regarding Nebraska sports betting bills aimed at expanding wagering to online platforms, with lawmakers hearing arguments from both sides. 

The Nebraska General Affairs Committee heard from supporters of mobile sports betting as well as individuals who argue that increased gambling will lead to greater addiction and social issues. Two proposals have been submitted to broaden online sports wagering. 

Legislative Bill 421, introduced by Sen. Stanley Clouse (R-Buffalo), would permit casinos to operate a single online sportsbook. Clouse contends that the 2020 statewide ballot initiative, which voters approved to permit slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting at horse racetracks with ongoing live racing, empowers the unicameral Legislature to extend sports betting to the internet. 

Senator Eliot Bostar (D-Lincoln) does not concur. Bostar argues that the Nebraska Constitution was modified to permit casino gambling solely on the actual grounds of the racetracks. Bostar supports Legislative Resolution 20, a suggested constitutional amendment permitting sports bets to be made “through a mobile or electronic platform.” 

Debate on Sports Wagering 

At the Nebraska sports betting hearing, Bostar informed his colleagues that the state is not fully benefiting from permitting sports gambling by restricting wagers to in-person at casinos. 

He stated that numerous Nebraskans wanting to place legal sports bets are going to nearby Iowa, Colorado, and Kansas where online sports wagering is permitted. Numerous individuals persist in using unlawful, offshore sports wagering platforms that lack taxation and do not offer consumer protections, such as assurances that winnings will be honored.

"The demand for mobile sports betting is clear,” Bostar said. “It’s in our best interest to regulate and benefit from it.”

Sarah Meuli, a representative for government affairs at DraftKings, stated that legal, regulated sportsbooks "offer a customer-focused experience with rigorous oversight, transparency, and protections for players." 

There was resistance, nonetheless. Pat Loontjer, the executive director of Gambling With The Good Life, an organization established in 1995 aimed at preventing gambling expansion in Nebraska, informed lawmakers that they were chosen “to safeguard constituents,” not to “exploit” them for more tax income. 

Nate Grasz, the Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance, which advocates for “Biblical values,” informed the committee that if the state's sportsbooks seek online betting rights, they must take the initiative to generate public support rather than relying on lawmakers to handle it for them. 

Muted Sports Wagering Income 

Limited to racetrack casinos, oddsmakers in Nebraska earned only $4.7 million from bettors in 2024. All four casinos currently operating — WarHorse Lincoln, Grand Island, Harrah’s Columbus, and WarHorse Omaha — provided retail sports wagering. 

West Virginia, which has 200K fewer residents and offers both mobile sports betting and in-person wagering, announced that bookmakers earned $56 million in 2024, with a significant portion of the wagers made online. 

Nebraska is among 24 states that do not have a team in the "big four" — the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. However, the state is fixated on college athletics, especially its cherished Nebraska Cornhuskers football squad, which was a dominant force in college football during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.