Nebraska has emerged as the most likely U.S. state to expand legal online sports betting this year after a key legislative committee voted to advance a constitutional amendment to the floor of the state's unicameral legislature.
The General Affairs Committee voted 6-2 on March 17 to move forward with LR 20CA, a proposal introduced by Lincoln Sen. Eliot Bostar that would legalize mobile sports betting through platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings. The bipartisan vote included support from three Democrats and three Republicans.
The proposal now faces several significant hurdles before reaching voters. As a constitutional amendment, LR 20CA will need a two-thirds majority (at least 30 of Nebraska's 49 lawmakers) during each of three rounds of debate to be placed on the 2026 ballot. If opponents filibuster the measure, it would require 33 votes to advance.
If approved by voters, mobile sports betting could not launch in Nebraska until 2027 at the earliest.
Several committee members who remain skeptical of expanded gambling voted to advance the proposal, citing concerns that industry groups would pursue their own ballot initiative with fewer restrictions if the legislature fails to act.
"I've got a lot of heartburn about mobile sports betting," said Sen. John Cavanaugh, a Democrat from Omaha. "But if we don't do this, they will put it on the ballot. And it will be more expansive than this."
Committee Chairman Sen. Rick Holdcroft, who voted against the measure, confirmed that a Nebraska casino executive told him directly that the industry would collect signatures to put the issue on the 2026 ballot if lawmakers don't take action.
Nebraska is surrounded by states that already offer legal online sports betting, particularly Iowa, where many residents cross the border to place wagers. According to geolocation compliance company GeoComply, approximately 3.9 million geolocation checks originated in Nebraska during the most recent NFL season.
The company also tracked 42,000 border crossings for sports wagering, with 90% of them heading into Iowa. Proponents estimate legalized mobile sports betting would be a $1.6 billion industry in Nebraska, generating approximately $32 million in annual tax revenue.
Under the proposed amendment, up to six online sports betting platforms would be allowed to operate in Nebraska. These platforms would need to be linked to licensed racetrack enclosures that currently offer retail sports betting.
The measure would also potentially remove Nebraska's current prohibition on betting on in-state college teams when they play at home, though the enabling legislation has yet to advance.
Nebraska voters first approved retail sports betting through a referendum in November 2020, with in-person wagering beginning in June 2023 at WarHorse Casino Lincoln.
The state legislature is set to adjourn on June 9, and bills from this session can carry over into 2026, providing lawmakers additional time to refine the framework before the potential statewide vote.
Nebraska could become the next state to legalize sports betting, with North Carolina having launched in 2024 and Missouri set to launch in fall of 2025.