Special Session Begin Discussions on Legalizing Online Sports Betting

Nebraska’s sports betting market could soon get a significant upgrade. 

Nebraska legislators met in Lincoln this week to discuss the possibility of legalizing online sports betting. The state currently enjoys a strong legal retail market, but some lawmakers are now set on expanding that to include mobile betting. They argue that expanding sports betting would allow them to send 90% of tax revenue to the state’s property tax relief fund. 

“Nebraska is currently missing out on $32 million in state revenues,” Sen. Eliot Bostar said during a hearing last week. “Thousands of Nebraskans are crossing state lines and supporting those economies. The demand for sports betting is clear, and directing revenue to the property tax credit fund can create much-needed relief.”

While there is still strong opposition to legalizing online sports betting, proponents argue that the industry is already in the state. Offshore books like Bovada operate in the state, allowing Nebraska residents to bet on games. Nebraska doesn’t see any tax revenue from those bets, meaning money is being left on the table. 

While there is much support for legalizing sports betting, many lawmakers and public figures have strongly opposed any expansion of sports betting in the state. They point to questionable marketing tactics and a spike in problem gambling. The increased revenue would benefit the state, but the cost to its residents would be too high.

Legislators have not taken action so far, but that could soon change, with proponents looking to put the topic on the November ballot.

GeoLocation Data Shows Demand Growing in Nebraska

GeoComply, a tech company that tracks geolocation data, shared data showing that the demand for online sports betting is growing in the Cornhusker State. They reported over two million location checks from Nebraska users attempting to access legal online sportsbooks. 

The company also confirmed that 64,000 residents own accounts with at least one online sportsbook. That is a 41% increase from the previous year, showing that more Nebraskans are accessing online sportsbooks when outside of state lines.

Four states bordering Nebraska allow online sports betting: Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas.