Nebraska Legislators Gear Up Laws & Regulations

Nebraska Legislators Gear Up for Sports Betting Decision

By Lisa Spencer Senior Editor Updated: 07 August 2024

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.

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It has been reported that legislators in Nebraska are gearing up to make a decision about sports betting later this year.

With the state facing financial challenges, Governor Jim Pillen recently spoke about the missed financial opportunities resulting from not legalizing sports betting. He added that neighboring states were reaping the rewards while Nebraska missed out on a sizeable chunk of revenue to boost state coffers.

He said,

Online sports betting is real and it’s happening in the state. Whoever wants to do it is doing it, and we’re giving all the revenue to our neighbors.

Since the governor spoke out, it has been revealed that Nebraska could see an addition to the November ballot to make online sports betting in the state legal. This could mean good news not only for the state’s finances but also for sports betting operators and sports fans across Nebraska.

Early Legislation Is Vital

Following a study, many believe that early legislation is vital when it comes to legalizing online sports betting in the state.

A study was carried out by GeoComply, which showed that there were more than two million blocked online bets placed in Nebraska in the first six months of this year. These online bets could have led to a huge boost in revenue.

During a special legislative session, Senator Eliot Bostar brought in a conditional amendment in a bid to tackle the lost revenue. If it gets the green light, it could mean that the legalization and taxation of online sports betting in the state is moved forward to November 2024 rather than in 2026.

Casino officials have also spoken out about the repercussions of failing to act quickly on the legalization of online sports betting in Nebraska. Lynne McNally from the WarHorse Casino and the Nebraska Horsemen said that the state risked losing out on $100 million in revenue if swift action wasn’t taken.

She said that property taxes in the state were much too high and that anything that could help resolve this issue would be welcomed. She added that if her industry could be part of resolving the problem, she would be proud.

Social Implications and Concerns

Like other states that have legalized online sports betting, concerns have been raised about the downside of making this move in Nebraska.

While officials acknowledge that the legalization of sports betting would have a huge positive impact on state finances, some have also voiced concerns. This is in relation to the social implications of expanding gambling facilities in Nebraska.

Some critics have spoken out about the increased risks of gambling addiction stemming from the move, which is an issue that has been seen in many states where online sports betting has been legalized. There are also concerns about the social issues that could result from this move as well as potential increases in crime rates.

Those supporting the move have said that people in Nebraska are already engaging in online sports betting using a variety of methods, so it made sense to offer it within the state so that Nebraska can benefit.