On Monday in the capital of Lincoln, Nebraska, lawmakers deliberated on sports betting bills aimed at broadening wagering to online platforms, hearing arguments from both perspectives on the matter. 

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

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 referendum, 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 broaden sports betting to the internet. 

Senator Eliot Bostar (D-Lincoln) has a differing opinion. Bostar asserts that the Nebraska Constitution was modified to permit casino gambling solely on the actual grounds of the racetracks. Bostar is the driving force behind Legislative Resolution 20, a suggested change to the constitution permitting the placement of sports bets “via a mobile or electronic platform.” 

Conversation about Sports Wagering 

At the Nebraska sports betting hearing, Bostar informed his colleagues that the state isn't fully capitalizing on the advantages of enabling sports gambling by restricting bets to in-person at casinos. 

He suggested that numerous Nebraskans eager to place legal sports bets are heading to nearby Iowa, Colorado, and Kansas, where online sports wagering is permitted. Numerous individuals still utilize illegal, offshore sports betting sites that lack taxation and do not offer consumer protections like assurance of payment for winning bets.

"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 DraftKings in government affairs, stated that legal, regulated sportsbooks “offer a customer-focused experience with stringent oversight, transparency, and protections for players.” 

There was resistance, though, as well. Pat Loontjer, 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 extra tax income. 

Nate Grasz, the Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance, which advocates for "Biblical values," informed the committee that if sportsbooks in the state seek to obtain online betting rights, they ought to cultivate public backing themselves rather than relying on lawmakers to do it for them. 

Reduced Sports Wagering Income 

With sports betting 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, with 200K fewer residents but offering mobile sports betting alongside in-person options, announced that oddsmakers earned $56 million in 2024, predominantly from online wagers. 

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 passionate about college sports, especially its cherished Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, which was a dominant force in college football during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.