Nebraska will not be introducing online sports betting anytime soon, as a special legislative session ended on Tuesday without formal discussion of legalizing the activity.
Nebraska online sports betting must wait until at least January 2025
Sen. Eliot Bostar introduced LR3CA and LB13 at the start of the special session that began July 25. The special session was called by Gov. Jim Pillen with the goal of addressing property tax relief and lasted 17 days.
During the session, Bostar and other advocates proposed a constitutional amendment that would have allowed residents to vote on legalizing online sports betting in the Cornhusker State.
Bostar’s legislation, LR3CA, would have amended the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act to allow casinos to offer mobile sports wagering if the issue gained legislative and public approval.
The bill package had appropriated up to 90% of betting revenue for property tax relief. Supporters argue that Nebraskans are already betting both within and outside the state. Legalizing the activity would help boost tax revenue while lowering property taxes.
Bostar’s constitutional amendment progressed out of committee last week. However, state legislature only would have introduced sports betting had the public voted yes.
A group of 13 senators released an official statement condemning online sports betting
Although part of Bostar’s package was approved in committee, the sports betting bill was never discussed on the Senate floor. It also faced stern opposition after advancing out of committee.
A group of 13 senators released an official statement earlier this week condemning the attempts to legalize online sports betting, citing that it would not create significant property tax relief and would worsen compulsive gambling.
Senators John Lowe, Ray Aguilar, Joni Albrecht, Robert Clements, Robert Dover, Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran, Brian Hardin, Rick Holdcroft, Loren Lippincott, Rita Sanders, and Julie Slama released the following statement on Friday:
“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.”
Their statement Friday cites data from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). According to the NCPG, online sports betting has increased the risk of gambling addiction by 30 percent, while the council’s helpline reports a 150 percent spike in calls. The data also shows that 20 percent of college students gamble using financial aid dollars.
Nebraska football coaching legend Tom Osborne disapproved of sports betting legislation as well. Online sports betting advocates will have to start over, as bills do not carry over into new legislative years.
The state’s next legislative session will run from January through May 2025. Pillen is expected to pursue legalizing online sports betting again next year.
