By
Lisa Spencer
Senior Editor Updated: 29 January 2025
Lisa Spencer Senior Editor
As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.
On January 17, 2025, Nebraska Senator Stanley Clause reintroduced Bill 421, which failed to move forward in the previous legislative session. Along with Senator Eliot Bostar, he also introduced another bill that’ll return the decision to the voters. But would this effort be successful? Read below, and let’s learn more about it together.
According to the reintroduced bill, online sportsbooks must partner with one of the six licensed racetracks in Nebraska. The legislation allows for one racetrack to partner with only a single betting platform, meaning that if the bill passes, the state may potentially have up to six online wagering platforms.
Another provision of LB 421 concerns the licensing fees paid by online sportsbooks in Nebraska. According to the bill, licensed platforms will have to pay a one-time fee of $5 million. They can do that in full or over a 5-year period, starting with an initial payment of $1 million upon the license’s issuance.
Next, Senator Clause has outlined a tax rate of 20% on gross sports betting revenue. According to the bill, 3% of the generated amount will be dedicated to the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund to promote responsible gambling. 90% will be allocated toward the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund, which provides property tax relief for Nebraska residents.
Similarly to all legal gambling activities in the Cornhusker State, such as horse racing, retail sports betting, and charitable games like bingo and raffles, online sportsbooks will be licensed and regulated by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission. They’ll be required to uphold the state’s latest safety standards and responsible gambling practices.
A few days earlier, Senator Tom Brandt introduced Legislative Bill 63 to amend the Nebraska Gaming Act to legalize pre-match and in-play betting on college sports and athletic events. Currently, the bill is under review by the Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee. If passed, it will mark yet another pivotal success in Nebraska’s more widespread legalization of gambling.
The efforts to legalize online sports betting have both their proponents and opponents in the state. Previous attempts in this direction have failed mainly because of concerns regarding a potential increase in problem gambling issues across the state. This is a real threat to the rapidly growing gambling industry nationwide.
Nebraska very recently legalized casinos largely on the promise of property tax relief that has failed to manifest itself. Expanding gambling further will inevitably lead to expanding the associated addictions and adds to more suffering in our communities. Online sports betting turns every cell phone into a 24/7 handheld gambling device, leading to new addictions.
– said a group of opposing senators in a statement.
On the other hand, proponents of online sports betting legalization argue that this will generate additional revenue for the state and lead to economic growth and job creation. It can also halt illegal gambling through unlicensed platforms and offshore operators. One thing is certain—if online sports betting is legalized in Nebraska, strict regulation and oversight will be required.
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