Nebraska Voters to Decide on Legalizing Online Sportsbooks

Petition Campaign Reaches Required Threshold

The Secretary of State’s office announced that both required thresholds had been met for the proposed Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment.

The petition collected at least 138,473 valid signatures, exceeding the 110% threshold required to qualify the proposal for consideration. The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office will now hold public hearings on the next steps in the process.

Jordan McGrain, speaking to the Nebraska Examiner, thanked those who participated in the campaign and said he believes “voters will agree that a legal and regulated online sports wagering marketplace will keep the money in Nebraska.” He also pointed to the potential benefits for “local communities” through additional revenue.

If approved by voters in November, the measure would establish a constitutional framework for regulated online sports wagering in Nebraska.

Nebraska’s Path Toward Mobile Sports Betting

Nebraska legalized sports betting in May 2021, but the framework limited wagering to licensed racetracks and racinos. Bettors must be at least 21 years old.

The state has subsequently considered expanding the market to mobile platforms, although previous efforts failed.

• May 2021: Nebraska legalizes sports betting at licensed racetracks only.
• 2024: Measures aimed at introducing mobile sports betting fail.
• November 2025: Petitions seeking a public vote on online sports betting are launched, with support from BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics.
• July 2026: The July 3 deadline for collecting petition signatures is reached.
• September 2026: The Secretary of State must certify the 2026 ballot by September 11.
• November 2026: Voters are scheduled to decide on the online sports betting proposal.

Proposed Framework Could Allow 10 Online Sportsbooks

Nebraska already has a retail sports betting market operating through its racinos. Under the proposed constitutional amendment, each of the state’s five racinos could partner with up to two online sportsbook operators.

This would potentially create a market with up to 10 online sportsbooks.

The proposed framework would also establish the following requirements:

• Online sportsbook operators would have to submit their controls to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission for approval.
• Each of Nebraska’s five racinos could have two online sports betting partners.
• The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission would regulate the online sportsbook market.
• The commission would have until June 1, 2027, to implement the new rules.
• Sports betting winnings would be checked against the state’s debt collection database.

The regulatory structure would therefore link the future online market directly to Nebraska’s existing land-based gaming infrastructure.

WarHorse Casino Already Exploring Online Partnerships

The potential expansion of Nebraska’s sports betting market is already prompting discussions between racinos and major sportsbook operators.

According to Lynne McNally of the Nebraska Family Alliance, WarHorse Casino is already in talks with potential online sports betting partners, including FanDuel, BetMGM and DraftKings.

The development comes as Nebraska seeks to catch up with neighboring states that have already established regulated online sports betting markets.

Nebraska Trails Regional Competitors

Nebraska has moved more slowly toward mobile sports betting than several nearby jurisdictions.

Colorado legalized online sportsbooks in 2019, while Kansas launched legal online sports betting in 2022. Wyoming has also established a legal mobile betting market despite not having an existing retail sportsbook network.

The November vote could therefore mark a significant turning point for Nebraska’s regulated sports betting sector. If voters approve the constitutional amendment, the state would move from a primarily retail sports betting model toward a broader market incorporating online operators and mobile wagering.