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UKNebraska Online Gambling Petition Nears Ballot
Key Highlights
- Online sports betting petitions are reportedly on track to be added to Nebraska’s November ballot.
- DraftKings and FanDuel have each donated about $3.5 million to the campaign.
- Supporters point to tax revenue benefits, while critics warn about addiction, campaign tactics, and limited property tax relief.
Online Betting Campaign Moves Toward November Ballot
Nebraska voters could decide this November whether to legalize online sports betting, with the lobby group Tax Relief Nebraska saying its petition drive is on track to qualify for the ballot.
The campaign is pushing two measures. One would legalize online sports betting, while the other would add authorization for online sports betting to the state constitution. Organizers must submit signatures by July 2, and the Secretary of State’s Office is expected to certify the ballot in mid-September.
To qualify, the group needs 88,000 signatures for the statutory petition and 126,000 for the constitutional measure. If enough valid signatures are confirmed, the issue will go before voters statewide.
Supporters argue Nebraska is already losing potential revenue because more than 40,000 Nebraska residents a year reportedly cross state lines to wager, often into Iowa, or use other workarounds to place wagers.
Funding, Tax Relief Claims & Opposition Concerns
The petition drive has drawn major financial backing from national sportsbook companies. DraftKings and FanDuel have each donated about $3.5 million to Tax Relief Nebraska, giving the campaign more than $7 million from the two companies alone.
That funding has become a key criticism from opponents. Pat Loontjer, executive director of Gambling with the Good Life, said the campaign is driven by paid circulators rather than a grassroots effort. She also questioned whether online sports betting would provide meaningful property tax relief.
Nebraska Family Alliance has also criticized the effort, saying voters have reported misleading statements from canvassers. The group argues the proposal is being marketed as tax relief while creating a major expansion of gambling funded by out-of-state companies.
Under the proposal, 70% of online wagering tax revenue would go to the property tax relief fund, matching the allocation used for taxes for in-person gambling in Nebraska. Critics argue the projected benefit would be small compared with Nebraska’s overall property tax burden.
Supporters Say Nebraska Is Missing Revenue
Supporters say mobile sports betting is already happening, and the state should regulate it rather than ignore it. Lynne McNally, director of government relations at WarHorse Casinos, said Nebraska currently misses out on tax benefits from online wagers placed illegally or across state lines.
WarHorse operates casinos in Lincoln and Omaha, with another planned in South Sioux City, and is publicly supporting the petitions. McNally said WarHorse is working with DraftKings and FanDuel because those national brands already have large customer databases.
Supporters also say safeguards would be part of any online system. WarHorse already uses a self-exclusion list for problem gamblers, and McNally said that feature would also apply online.
Others are more cautious. Mike Sciandra with the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling said his organization is neutral but focused on safeguards, education, and treatment access. He warned that mobile betting can be more addictive than traditional casino gambling because wagers are available around the clock.
The ballot question now depends on signature validation. If certified, Nebraska voters will decide whether mobile sports betting should become part of the state’s gambling landscape.