Nebraska voters may get the opportunity to have their say on mobile sports betting if the referendum appears on their November ballots. However, a cohort of senators has opposed digital gambling in the Cornhusker State which could prove problematic down the road.
Step by Step
Legislative Resolution 3CA, a bill that would allow a constitutional amendment to allow mobile sports betting, has advanced out of the state legislature’s General Affairs Committee and will be voted on by lawmakers at the special session convened to find ways to lower Nebraska’s property taxes. Should LR 3CA make it through the legislature, the question would be left up to voters to decide if they want digital sports betting in their state.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Eliot Bostar, said, “Thousands of Nebraskans are crossing state lines and supporting those economies,” Bostar said. “The demand for sports betting is clear, and directing revenue to the property tax credit fund can create much-needed relief.”
But even if the electorate answers in the affirmative, the legislature would then have to vote on it and, if successful, determine the legal framework and how the tax money would be allocated. Although getting the bill out of committee signals progress, it is still in its infancy and voters may not get their say on the measure until 2026 if only three-fifths of the lawmakers approve.
However, the referendum could be on November’s ballot if four-fifths of the legislature votes yes and submits the language of the referendum to the Secretary of State by September 13 for its stamp of approval. Referendum questions are only allowed on ballots during even-numbered election cycles.
Baker’s Dozen
Although progress is being made in bringing online sports betting to the Cornhusker State, not everyone is supporting it. It has been reported that 13 state senators have signed a letter against mobile sports betting, stating that approving land-based casino gambling has not brought the property tax relief that was promised once those revenues began filling the state’s coffers.
The statement read, “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.”
The legendary Nebraska Cornhuskers football coach, Tom Osborne, who brought three national titles to the school in the 90s and later became a U.S. Congressman for Nebraska’s 3rd District, has also been vocal about his opposition
Osborne testified during the special legislative session and expressed his opposition, stating, “Having been involved in athletics for most of my life, I can attest to the fact that the most intense criticism and negative circumstances that coaches and athletes have is often not just due to losing on the scoreboard, it often results from not beating the point spread, not meeting such metrics such as number of turnovers, yards lost, yards gained, points scored, etc.”
But Nebraska Senator Carol Blood believes the time has come to allow voters to decide for themselves. “You can’t keep controlling morality. We’re very willing to do ‘sin taxes’ when we don’t agree that people should drink or smoke,” Blood said. “Here’s an opportunity for us to be forward-thinking and to relieve the property tax burden, how great is that?”
