Initiative to Approve Nebraska Online Sports Betting Now Circulating

• An initiative to amend Nebraska’s constitution to allow online sports betting has been approved for circulation
• The initiative will legalize online sports betting and allow platform providers to partner with up to two online sports betting operators
• Proponents will now be able to begin collecting signatures to place a referendum question on the state’s November general election ballot

---

Nebraska residents are hoping to take sports betting legalization into their own hands this year.

An initiative to amend Nebraska’s constitution to legalize online sports betting has now been approved for circulation. Initiative proponents can now begin the process of collecting enough verified signature to place an amendment question on the state’s November general election.

The initiative seeks to amend the state’s constitution to allow eligible Nebraska platform providers to partner with up to two operators for the purpose of offering online sports betting in the Cornhusker State.

Signature Collection Now Begins

Sports betting is currently legal in the state, but the initiative proponents are hoping to expand gaming to include online sports through a constitutional amendment. Supporters began the process in September and can now start moving towards placing a question on the state’s November general election ballot.

Now that the initiative is approved for circulation, the signature collecting process can begin. According to the Nebraska Secretary of State, the organizers will have to collect verified signatures equaling 7% or more of registered voters in Nebraska. For a constitutional amendment, 10% of the registered voters must sign, and for a referendum at least 5% must sign.

In addition, signatures must be collected from 5% of the registered voters in 38 of the 93 Nebraska counties.

According to Nebraska voter registration statistics, as of February there are 1,254,285 registered voters in the state. If 10% of registered voters must sign for a constitutional amendment, this means proponents will have to collect more about 125,428 signatures to place a question on the ballot.

Additionally, the signatures will have to be collected and verified at least four months prior to the state’s November general election, meaning the collection process will have to be completed by July.

Legislators Failed to Pass Bill Last Several Years

Over the last several years several legislators have floated bills to legalize online sports betting in the state through a constitutional amendment, but all have failed.

Last March, the Nebraska Senate General Affairs Committee approved Sen. Eliot Bostar’s (D-29) legislation, LR20CA, by a 6-2 vote. The bill called for the legalization of online sports betting through a constitutional amendment. Bostar said Nebraska could expect an additional $32 million in total tax revenues over the next 2.5 years if legalized.

The Nebraska Senate approved Bostar’s legislation by a 27-16 vote last April, one of a necessary three to be legalized, but a second vote was eventually blocked by a filibuster. Detractors of online sports betting in the state warned of rising problem gaming rates and over promises of reduced property tax rates from gambling revenues.

Nebraska has a unique unicameral legislature, with legislation only having to pass through the Nebraska Senate before being sent to Gov. Jim Pillen (R) for his signature.

However, bills must be approved on three separate votes with two-thirds majority each time to be placed on a general election ballot.

Interestingly, Bostar warned his fellow legislators about the potential of an initiative being circulated to legalize online sports betting. Bostar noted that members of the Nebraska casino industry indicated they would attempt a signature drive to place a question on the ballot if his bill was not approved.

This would be similar to the way Missouri legalized sports betting, as its sports franchises pushed their own voting referendum through the Show-Me State in 2024.

Bostar said Nebraska lawmakers would have more of a say as to how online sports betting is legalized if they approve their own crafted bill. Sen. John Cavanaugh (D-9) agreed with Bostar, noting during discussions that legalized sports betting gives him a considerable amount of “heartburn,” but the legislature should have control over what is placed on a ballot rather than Nebraska casinos.