The Nebraska Legislature ended its push to legalize online sports betting Wednesday.
Sen. Eliot Bostar withdrew LR 20CA on Wednesday after it became clear he would not meet the vote threshold to overturn a filibuster. The proposal previously passed the first of three required votes, 27-16, with six lawmakers not voting.
Nebraska citizens voted to approve casinos in 2020, including in-person sports betting. Bostar’s proposal would have allowed them to vote on online Nebraska sports betting.
Bills can carry over into the 2026 session. If passed, the proposal would be on the November 2026 ballot.
Nebraska sports betting push falls apart
Last year, online expansion began gaining traction during a special session to help ease property taxes in the state. Gov. Jim Pillen supported the push, and even floated the issue as a priority bill in 2025 if it did not pass.
Bostar picked up the issue this year, seeing it through committee and the first of three floor votes. He told local media that he had enough support to clear the 30-vote threshold needed in the final two Legislature floor votes.
However, that threshold grows with a filibuster, which emerged with many senators speaking against the issue during a four-hour stand. Many of the opponents talked about the potential of gambling addiction and the possible increase of suicides, drug abuse and bankruptcies.
With the lack of votes, Bostar pulled his legislation.
Bostar proposal details
If LR 20CA had passed the legislature, Nebraska voters would then have been able to have a say on whether online sportsbooks are legal. Then, the state’s casinos could partner with sportsbook operators.
Bostar said in a committee hearing that the state loses up to $32 million in tax revenue each year.
Most of the tax revenue would go to the state’s education system and the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund.
Could sportsbooks lead a campaign?
During committee discussions, lawmakers said sportsbook operators could lead a ballot initiative. The legislators hoped to get ahead of the operators and control the narrative.
“I’ve got a lot of heartburn about mobile sports betting,” Sen. John Cavanaugh said during a hearing. “But if we don’t do this, they will put it on the ballot. And it will be more expansive than this.”
Last year, sportsbooks and the state’s professional teams led a successful campaign in Missouri. Sportsbooks and teams contributed more than $40 million to the initiative. It passed with 50.05% of the votes.
