Nebraska Push for November Ballot For Online Gambling

Nebraska’s casino industry is eyeing the November ballot for the legalization of online sports gambling. A coalition consisting of major players in the online sports gambling industry, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars, has partnered with Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, to gauge the interest of Nebraskans in a potential constitutional amendment. This amendment would allow sports bettors in the state to place bets online. The coalition is currently conducting a public opinion poll to assess the level of support for this initiative.

At present, sports betting in Nebraska is limited to in-person wagers at casinos that offer sports betting services. The WarHorse Gaming, which operates physical sportsbooks in Lincoln and Omaha, is one of the few establishments where Nebraskans can legally place sports bets. However, the gambling industry aims to expand the accessibility of online sports gambling to meet the growing demand for convenient and remote betting options.

Lance Morgan, the CEO of Ho-Chunk, has stated that if the public expresses sufficient support for online sports gambling in the poll, the coalition will move forward with their plans. He highlighted the convenience factor, stating that people prefer betting from their phones rather than driving to physical locations. The coalition believes that legalizing online sports gambling could generate significant revenue for Nebraska, with Morgan predicting an annual industry worth of $1.5 billion, 20% of which would be allocated to the state.

To achieve their goals, the coalition faces several challenges. Nebraska’s legislative session for introducing new legislation has already ended, and any efforts to bring the issue before lawmakers this year would require the suspension of legislative rules. Alternatively, the coalition could pursue a petition drive to gather approximately 122,000 valid signatures by July 2024, which would allow the issue to be included on the 2024 general election ballot.

Conducting a petition drive would require significant financial resources, as previous successful petition drives related to gambling in Nebraska have cost over $1 million. Furthermore, the introduction of legalized casino gambling in 2020 resulted in more than $7 million in spending on advertisements, lawyers, and petition circulators by both pro- and anti-gambling forces. These financial considerations will heavily influence the decision to pursue a petition drive.

Opponents of online sports gambling argue against its expansion in Nebraska. Pat Loontjer, the executive director of Gambling With the Good Life, has been fighting against the expansion of gambling in the state for nearly three decades. She believes that sports betting can lead to severe financial consequences for individuals and opposes its legalization.

Nebraska’s Racing and Gaming Commission, though it has no formal opinion on the potential legalization of online sports gambling, has been actively preparing for its arrival. The commission recognizes the need to adapt to the evolving gambling landscape and ensure that regulations are in place to protect consumers and maintain integrity within the industry.