Nebraska advances digital sports betting amendment to Senate floor

Nebraska’s legislature has advanced a constitutional amendment that could pave the way for legal digital sports betting, sending the measure to the full Senate. If approved, the proposal will be placed on the November 2026 ballot, with the earliest possible launch of online sports wagering in 2027.    

The Senate General Affairs Committee passed the measure in a 6-2 vote on March 17, positioning Nebraska as one of the few U.S. states moving toward digital sports betting legalization this year. The bill, Legislative Resolution 20CA, requires a two-thirds majority in three separate votes on the Senate floor to proceed.  

The proposal moved forward despite strong opposition at a March 10 hearing. Some lawmakers see it as a defensive measure against a potential industry-led ballot initiative.   

Senator John Cavanaugh expressed concerns about mobile sports betting but acknowledged industry pressure to act: "I’ve got a lot of heartburn about mobile sports betting. But if we don’t do this, they will put it on the ballot. And it will be more expansive than this."  

Nebraska is bordered by states that have legal online sports betting, leading to a significant outflow of betting dollars.  

• GeoComply reported 3.9 million geolocation checks in Nebraska during the NFL season, suggesting Nebraskans are attempting to access digital sportsbooks from within the state.  

• Additionally, 42,000 border crossings were tracked, with 90% of those heading into Iowa, where online sports betting is legal.  

• A heat map from GeoComply illustrates Nebraska bettors frequently parking near the Iowa border to place wagers.  

Nebraska lawmakers have introduced a sports betting bill, and bettors are crossing the border into an Iowa cornfield to place wagers🌽📍. Our latest report highlights the unmet demand for legal sports betting in NE. Read more & see the heat map: https://t.co/fglcLKU6oC… pic.twitter.com/v2ZMPsNMoH

— GeoComply (@GeoComply) January 22, 2025

Under LR 20CA, digital sports betting platforms would be required to partner with licensed racetrack enclosures in the state. Up to six licenses would be available, potentially opening the door for operators such as BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel to enter the market.  

If approved by voters, the constitutional amendment would allow licensed gaming operators at racetracks to offer online betting:  

"A constitutional amendment to permit an authorized gaming operator conducting sports wagering within a licensed racetrack enclosure to allow a sports wager to be placed by an individual located within the State of Nebraska at the time the individual places the sports wager by means of a mobile or electronic platform."  

One unresolved issue is whether Nebraska will lift its restriction on betting on college teams playing at home. This change could be introduced in separate legislation, but it has yet to progress.  

Nebraska voters approved retail sports betting via referendum in 2020, leading to the first in-person bets at WarHorse Casino Lincoln in June 2023. The current measure would extend that approval to mobile and online platforms.  

Nebraska’s legislative session ends on June 9, and bills can carry over into 2026 if needed.  

Meanwhile, neighboring Missouri voters passed a digital betting initiative in 2024, with mobile sports wagering set to launch there by December 1, 2025.