Nebraska Petition Drive Aims to Put Online Sports Betting on 2026 Ballot

The campaign seeks voter approval for a constitutional amendment that would permit Nebraskans to place bets through smartphones and other online platformsImage Source: Shutterstock.com

Casino operators and advocates in Nebraskaare shifting their focus from the statehouse to the voters. They plan to start a petition drive to put mobile sports betting on the 2026 ballot.

WarHorse Casinos Spearhead Campaign to Put Online Betting Before Nebraska Voters in 2026

The campaignwould ask Nebraskaresidents to approve a change to the state constitution. This change would allow people to place bets using their smartphones and other online platforms. To get the initiative on the ballot, organizers need to collect about 125,000 valid signatures. This number represents 10% of the state’s registered voters. Those backing the effort say people could start signing petition sheets in the next few weeks, reported Covers.

WarHorse Casinosin Omahaand Lincolnlead the charge in this industry push. WarHorseexec Lynne McNally said they started this to stop gambling money from going to other states. She pointed out that people already use tricks like VPNs or travel to Iowa and Colorado to bet, which means Nebraskamisses out on millions in taxes.

Those who back this plan think legalonline sports bettingcould bring in about $32 million each yearfor the state. They say a big chunk of this money would boost Nebraska’s property tax relief fund, just like how casino taxes work now.

The push for expanded gambling comes after a failed law earlier this year. A bill to allow betting beyond physical casinos made progress but stopped when critics blocked it. The bill’s supporters, including Sen. Eliot Bostar and Sen. Dunixi Guereca, had said that doing nothing would move the debate to a public vote.

Skeptics Say Social Costs May Outweigh Revenue From Online Gambling

Those againstthe idea remain wary, worried about the social impact of easy mobile access. Critics, like former coach and long-time gambling foe Tom Osborne, have said that young men might face higher chances of getting hooked, financial troubles, and related mental health problems. Some people doubt if the expected money will cut property taxes or make up for the possible downsides.

The fight in Nebraskamirrors similar struggles happening in other places. In Georgia, for example, politicians and business representatives are trying to bring back gambling proposals that have been stuck for a long time. They are doing this because of financial pressures and the success of nearby states in making money. North Carolina made $116 million in taxesfrom its first year of legal online sports betting, while Tennesseegot more than $97 millionlast year.

People who support this in Nebraskause these examples to show that the state is lagging. They say that regulated online platforms would be safer than offshore companies and that voters, not politicians, should have the final say. Should the petition effort prove successful, Nebraska residentswill confront the issue in November 2026. This might pave the way for online sports betting to become a reality just six years after voters gave the green light to casino gaming at racetracks.