The Bill to Expand Nebraska Sports Betting Appears to be Losing Steam

The measure that proposes the expansion of Nebraska sports betting to online operators is currently moving up the legislative food chain. However, the belief that it will receive enough support to appear on the 2026 electoral ballot is beginning to wane.

Legislative Resolution 20CA (LR 20CA) was first introduced by Senator Eliot Bostar, out of Lincoln. Its ultimate goal is to bring online sports betting to Nebraska. As things currently stand, The Cornhusker State allows residents to partake in retail sports betting only. That launch proved to be a lengthy process by itself. Though Nebraska sports betting has technically been legal since 2021, retail operations did not go live until June 2023. 

During the first round of debates, Senator Bostar’s measure received support from 27 members of the initial 49-person committee. Six participants apparently did not place a vote, while 16 outright opposed the proposal.

If LR 20CA makes it out of congress, it aims to place the deciding voice with Nebraska voters. Part of this plan includes having it available on the 2026 ballot. The legalization of Nebraska sports betting requires a constitutional amendment, so voter support is not just essential. It is mandatory.

Early impressions of LR 20CA seemed favorable. Nebraska’s legislative body even put it on their agenda for unscheduled hearings that took place this past summer. Even so, nothing came of it. And entering 2025 legislative sessions, the prevailing sentiment is that online sports betting legalization remains unlikely, at least through the end of this year.

Lost Revenue is at the Heart of Argument for Nebraska Sports Betting Expansion

As tends to be the case in these instances, the default stance for supporters of LR 20CA is some variation of “Nebraska online sports betting is already happening, so we might as well both capitalize on it and regulate it.”

Bostar is quick to play the “Let’s not leave money on the table card.” That argument is, in many ways, almost purely anecdotal. But it is receiving a boon on two fronts. 

Firstly, new Senator Dunixi Guereca continues to reiterate his direct experience with Nebraskans crossing state lines to bet on sports. As reported by the Nebraska Examiner, he recently said that “from his front porch, he can see people going over a bridge to Iowa, pulling off into a gravel lot and placing bets. He said Nebraska’s inaction is moving tax dollars to Iowa.”

These sentiments are not untrue. They can, however, ring hollow without exact data. Fortunately for Nebraska sports betting advocates, reinforcement has come in the form of a new GeoComply study. The tech company, which specializes in geolocation services, recently put together revenue estimates for online sports betting in the United States, specifically inside markets that have not yet legalized it. The Cornhusker State is one of the seven places GeoComply looked at, joining a list that features Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Minnesota, Mississippi and Alabama.

According to the study, online sports betting in Nebraska will be worth $19.9 million of additional tax revenue by its third year of operations. So, if voters approve it in 2026 and it launches by 2027, The Cornhusker State will increase its budget by tens of millions of dollars before the end of the decade.

On top of that, the study also shows a dramatic year over year increase in attempts to create online sports betting accounts within Nebraska’s state borders. In this case, we are talking about millions of attempts to create or login to online sports betting accounts during the 2024 calendar.

Support for the Expansion of Sports Betting in The Cornhusker State is Spotty

These revenue projections have played a significant hand in swaying certain legislative opinions. With that said, Senator Bostar remains unsure of how much support he can count on. As Zach Wendling of the Nebraska Examiner writes:

“Bostar said he knew his bill would face tight margins but that at least three of the six lawmakers who missed Monday’s vote are in favor of his measure. It’s getting the remaining three votes that could be tricky and could require flipping at least one current ‘no’ vote. Bostar pledged to work with his colleagues on any desired changes. Of the senators who haven’t yet voted on Bostar’s measure, State Senators Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Tom Brandt of Plymouth and Jane Raybould of Lincoln said they support it. State Senators Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Brian Hardin of Gering opposed an identical measure in August. State Senator Glen Meyer of Pender, the sixth lawmaker, said he remains ‘on the fence.’”

Whatever the fate of LR 20CA, it sure seems like the outcome will come down to the wire. For now, skepticism is the default. At this point, every lawmaker understands the financial upsides of Nebraska sports betting online. Opposition, as well as indecision, stems from concern about an oversaturation of access. More specifically, state senators continue to caution that the legalization of online sports betting stands to sell out the younger generation, who they believe will be inundated with marketing and general exposure that begets a windfall of problem-gambling habits. 

Senator Bostar, among others, argue that a regulated online market will make things safer in light of the increased access. Whether that stance is resonating, though, remains to be seen. But we will find out soon enough.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: