Nebraska voters could decide this November whether to expand sports betting beyond casinos, as WarHorse Casino leads a ballot petition drive to legalize statewide online sportsbooks and tap new tax revenue for property tax relief.
The state’s four casinos, led by WarHorse, hope the ballot initiative to expand the Nebraska sports betting to online sportsbooks can circumvent recent legislative gridlock on the issue. There are two petitions filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State and circulating.
One would amend the state constitution’s gambling language, while another would alter the state’s regulations. The petitions were cleared in February.
The petition effort follows several years of legislative failures to pass online sports betting expansion, despite support from Gov. Jim Pillen. State lawmakers have considered the expansion as one way to provide residents with property tax relief.
Nebraska sports betting ballot petition
Nebraska voters approved casino-style gambling, including in-person sports betting, in November 2020. This petition would place a constitutional amendment and regulatory changes on the November ballot, aiming to amend the state’s gambling laws to allow for online sports betting.
It would tie the sportsbooks to the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos. Each casino could operate up to two skins.
If approved at the ballot, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission would need to adjust the state’s rules on or before June 1, 2027.
Successful sports betting ballot criteria
There are 12 active petitions for the 2026 General Election in circulation, according to the Nebraska Secretary of State. Along with sports betting expansion, other issues include abortion, property taxes and election laws.
To be placed on the ballot, a constitutional amendment needs signatures from 10% of registered voters in the state, or approximately 125,000. A state statute requires 7% of registered voters. It also needs to be signed by 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties.
WarHorse Casino CEO Lance Morgan told WOWT-TV the plan is to collect at least 300,000 signatures.
The signatures need to be turned in by July 3.
Previous Nebraska legislative efforts
The push for online sports betting began in earnest in 2024, when Pillen looked for ways to provide property tax relief. The Governor voiced support for sports betting and mentioned it as a priority bill.
Lawmakers did not take up the issue during a special legislative session in 2024 after Pillens initial support. Legislative sponsor Sen. Eliot Bostar pulled his legislation last year when it was clear there would not be enough votes to end a filibuster.
When lawmakers discussed the issue last year, while there was plenty of opposition, some believed they should control the expansion themselves before allowing the casinos to set the agenda through a ballot initiative.
“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.”
Bostar estimated the state is missing out on $32 million in annual tax revenue without online sports betting.
