Nebraska Online Sports Betting Canvassing Will Soon Begin for 2026 Referendum
Posted on: February 16, 2026, 02:23h.
Last updated on: February 16, 2026, 02:23h.
- A campaign to place an online sports betting question before voters in Nevada this November will soon begin canvassing for signatures
- Sports betting in Nebraska is currently limited to in-person wagering at a commercial casino
Nebraska sports betting is limited to in-person wagers at one of the state’s commercial casinos. A ballot referendum campaign to allow online bets will soon begin collecting signatures in hopes of putting the matter before voters during this November’s general election.
Nebraskans legalized sports betting through a 2020 referendum that permitted casinos with slot machines, table games, and sportsbooks at licensed horse racetracks. The vote, however, limited sports gambling to in-person.
Over the past half-decade, legislative efforts to further amend the Nebraska Constitution to allow online sports betting have come up short. Now, an advocacy group and the largest casino operator in the Cornhusker State are taking matters into their own hands with a citizen-led initiative.
Secretary Approval
WarHorse Gaming is the dominant player in Nebraska’s commercial gaming industry. A subsidiary of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (Ho-Chunk), WarHorse’s partnership with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association allowed it to develop three of the six casinos in Nebraska. Along with WarHorse Casino Lincoln and WarHorse Casino Omaha, WarHorse is set to develop a track and casino in South Sioux City in the coming years.
Along with the Sports Betting Alliance, a lobbying firm that advocates for sports betting and iGaming legislation, WarHorse is petitioning to allow online sports wagering in Nebraska. Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen’s office recently signed off on the constitutional referendum’s language.
Amend the Nebraska Constitution to state that laws may be enacted allowing sports wagers to be placed within the State of Nebraska through an internet-based platform offered by an authorized gaming operator,” the initiative petition reads.
Each casino would be permitted to operate or partner with up to two online sportsbooks.
The campaign must now obtain signatures from at least 10% of the state’s registered voters. Additionally, the campaign must secure a minimum support of 5% from the registered voters in 38 of the 93 counties. Canvassing will begin at the state’s casinos and prominent sports events.
If Evnen’s office validates the needed signatures, the referendum would go before voters, where a simple majority support would be needed for the amendment to pass.
Companion Referendum
The Nebraska online sports betting drive, through a companion referendum called the “Property Tax Credit Fund Increase From Online Sports Wagering,” would stipulate that online sports taxes primarily benefit homeowners.
Nebraskans legalized commercial casinos to help ease homeowner property taxes. Last fall, Gov. Jim Pillen (R) said the state’s tax benefit from the five up and running casinos exceeded expectations.
During the 2024 tax year, casino money helped reduce a homeowner’s tax bill on a property assessed at $200,000 by about $250. The savings are expected to be considerably higher for 2025, as Pillen in September said $20 million more than forecasted had been deposited in the property tax relief fund.
Legalizing online sports betting would only further grow the annual benefit. Nebraska’s mulling of online sports bets, though, comes at a unique time, as prediction markets regulated on the federal level are seemingly poised to continue offering trading on contracts involving sporting events.
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