Nebraska Sports Betting And Sportsbook Apps 2023
Nebraska sports betting has been legal since the state legislature passed a bill in May 2021. While online sports betting is not yet available, bettors can wager at two retail locations in the state.
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When will online sports betting launch in Nebraska?
Any potential launch date for legal online sports betting in Nebraska is still unclear, as there are no rules allowing for online sports betting in the state.
For now, there are just two locations in the state where bettors can bet on sports legally in Nebraska. All other licensed casinos in the state that wish to provide legal sports betting must apply for and be granted vendor licenses.
What’s happening in Nebraska sports betting right now
- Nov. 6, 2023 — A groundbreaking ceremony was held to kick off the construction of Fonner Park in Grand Island, a new casino expected to open in 2025. The future location will offer retail sports betting, slots, and table games.
- Oct. 25, 2023 — A second WarHorse Casino has been approved to open in Omaha. The facility will become the third retail sports betting location in the state.
- Sept. 21, 2023 — WarHorse Casino Lincoln is celebrating it’s first anniversary on Sept. 23. WarHorse is one of just two retail sportsbooks available in Nebraska.
- Aug. 23, 2023 — The Grand Island Casino Resort opened in Grand Island. The casino is the second location offering sports betting to open in the state.
- June 22, 2023 — WarHorse Casino Lincoln has announced that its new sportsbook is now open for business. WarHorse partnered with the Kambi Group for the launch. Bettors can wager through the betting window or at one of 10 betting kiosks.
- June 1, 2023 — Nebraska has again pushed its go-live date into the future after missing its planned Memorial Day launch. The newest reported potential date for the launch of legal sports betting is June 24, the start of the College World Series.
- May 5, 2023 — WarHorse Gaming has announced plans to construct a new facility in Omaha while continuing to build its Lincoln facility.
Potential Nebraska sportsbook apps
As of now, rules and regulations for sports betting in Nebraska do not allow online or mobile wagering. However, if that changes, there are a few online books that could look to stake their claim in the state and begin offering online sports betting promos. Here are some of the top candidates:
- DraftKings — Already active as a daily fantasy sports provider in Nebraska and usually one of the first to launch in states that allow online sports betting.
- FanDuel — Also active as a DFS provider in Nebraska and often quick to launch in states where sports betting is legal.
- Caesars — One of the proposed racinos slated to be constructed in Nebraska is a Harrah’s location in Columbus. Harrah’s is owned by Caesars Entertainment, which would give the gambling giant a foothold in the state.
Nebraska sports betting law
For now, sports betting will be available only at approved racinos, and people must place wagers in person at sports betting kiosks at the approved locations.
- Bettors may wager on professional, international, and college sports, individual sports awards, sports drafts, esports, and simulated games.
- The state won’t allow prop bets on individual college athletes or bets on Nebraska-based college teams that are playing games in the state.
- Bettors also won’t be able to bet on minor league sports or high school sports.
- The state of Nebraska will take a 20% tax on casino gambling revenue.
Legal sports betting options in Nebraska
At the moment, there are two legal options for sports betting in Nebraska: the WarHorse Casino in Lincoln and Grand Island Casino Resort in Grand Island. Some offshore sportsbooks may suggest that wagering on sports is legal in Nebraska on their websites, but those sites are operating outside of US laws, and there would be no legal recourse for bettors to recoup unpaid winnings or account balances should the sportsbook close.
DFS providers such as DraftKings and FanDuel allow Nebraska residents to play daily fantasy sports contests on their platforms.
Casino gambling in Nebraska
There are five tribal casinos in Nebraska located on Native American reservation land, as well as one racetrack and casino, the WarHorse Casino at Lincoln Race Course. The WarHorse became the state’s first racino when it opened in September 2022.
WarHorse offers 433 slot machines, simulcast betting on horse races, and, as of June 2023, sports betting at a sportsbook window or kiosks.
Horse betting in Nebraska
Horse racing and horse betting are legal in Nebraska. Bettors can wager live at the track, through simulcast betting or online or via an app.
There are six tracks in Nebraska with live dates for 2023. Each of these racetracks reportedly intends on becoming a racino and adding sports betting facilities once able:
- Atokad Downs in South Sioux City
- Fairplay Park in Hastings
- Agricultural Park in Columbus
- Fonner Park in Grand Island
- Horsemen’s Park in Omaha
- Lincoln Race Course in Lincoln (this track is the site of the newly opened WarHorse Casino)
Simulcast betting is available at Fonner Park, Horsemen’s Park, and Lincoln Race Course.
Nebraska and daily fantasy sports
All of the major daily fantasy sports providers accept contest entries from within Nebraska. The daily fantasy sports space is a legal gray area in the state, as the language in state law does not specifically forbid or allow daily fantasy sports.
Companies like DraftKings and FanDuel do accept paid entries from within the state and could also end up seeking licenses to operate as retail sportsbooks in the future. There have been multiple attempts over the past few years to get daily fantasy sports regulated and taxed within the state, though none of that legislation has passed.
Nebraska surrounded by legal sports betting
While people in Nebraska do not have a legal avenue to place online sports bets at the moment, five of the six states that border Nebraska allow sports betting in some form, including online.
Omaha, which contains nearly a quarter of the population of the state of Nebraska, sits on the Iowa border. Iowa legalized sports betting in 2019, with both online and retail betting launching later that year.
Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas also border Nebraska and have legalized online sports betting. South Dakota, to the north, also allows sports betting, but only at casinos located in the city of Deadwood.
Missouri is the only state that borders Nebraska where sports betting remains illegal, but it is not for a lack of trying. Missouri had several active sports betting bills at the beginning of 2022, but lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement on any of them.
Most popular sports to bet on in Nebraska
In Nebraska, all allegiances to sports teams come secondary to the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Huskers football team is the most popular team in the state and would likely bring in the biggest betting handle of any events based in Nebraska, but in-state bettors cannot legally wager on their beloved Huskers under the state’s sports betting rules.
There are no professional sports teams in the state, so loyalty to pro teams tends to focus on teams in neighboring or nearby states.
In the NFL, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are two of the more popular teams in Nebraska. Both teams are located in neighboring states and have had some recent success.
The Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago Cubs are three of the most popular MLB teams in Nebraska. The Cubs are also owned by the family of former Nebraska Gov. and current US Sen. Pete Ricketts.
In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls are two of the most popular teams.
Nebraska sports betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Nebraska?
Yes, but right now the only way to place a wager is at the lone retail location in the state.
Who will be able to bet on sports in Nebraska?
Anyone 21 or older and inside Nebraska will be able to wager on sports in the state, provided, for now, that they are placing their wagers at a designated racino. While some select activities — lottery and pari-mutuel wagering — require participants only to be 18 or older, most gambling options in the state mandate that you be 21 or older.
Who oversees sports betting in Nebraska?
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission oversees all gambling in the state, including sports betting.
Where can I bet on sports in Nebraska?
The WarHorse Casino in Lincoln is currently the only location to place a legal bet in Nebraska.
Can I bet on sports on my phone in Nebraska?
There are no legal options for mobile sports betting in Nebraska at this time.