Nebraska Sports Betting Gets Online Push
Sportsbooks Join Forces to Explore Online Betting in Nebraska
Nebraska sports betting has been legal since a ballot provision passed in 2020. But it wasn’t until 2023 the first sportsbook opened. But there is one catch. It can only be done in person.
Some of the major players in the sportsbook industry, such as FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook have teamed-up to gauge public interest in seeing legalized Nebraska sports betting online. There’s no question those who partake in sports gambling would rather do it from their phone or computer.
The amount of money bet at physical sportsbooks only makes up a small portion of the amount wagered. In states where online betting is legal, close to 90% of bets are made online. That’s why there’s a push to legalize online gambling sites for sporting events in Nebraska.
The sportsbooks are working with the Winnebago Tribe to conduct a poll of residents and see their reaction to online betting. If the poll numbers favor online betting, the group will work on getting the measure on the November ballot in the form of a Constitutional amendment.
Lawmakers can put a Constitutional amendment on the ballot. If that fails, the group would have to collect nearly 123,000 signatures of registered voters to be considered in the November election. An online sports betting bill failed to pass the Legislature last year.
The Winnebago Tribe already runs sportsbooks at its casinos in Lincoln and Omaha. The casinos operates the casinos through its economic development company, Ho-Chunk, Inc. Ho-Chunk CEO Lance Morgan is a big proponent of online sports betting. He believes people don’t want to have to drive to the casino just to place bets if they can help it.
Illegal Online Betting in Nebraska
Despite Nebraska sports betting being restricted to in-person bets, there are plenty of Nebraska residents with online sports betting accounts. GeoComply Solutions said it located 64,000 sports betting accounts in the state. The majority of those are in Iowa, where online sports betting is legal.
The company said it did more than 2.8 million geolocation checks between Jan. 1 and Oct. 30, on devices located in Nebraska accessing legal mobile sportsbooks in other states. Those located in the state of Nebraska were prohibited from betting.
Morgan and the Winnebago Tribe have already made tentative deals with sportsbooks operators if online sports betting is approved. FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM are who they have reached out to and have deals in place. But it’s going to be a bit of a long process for those online gambling sites to be allowed in the state.
In the meantime, Nebraska residents will drive to one of the brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state. Others will head to the nearest state where online sports betting is legal and make bets in their car, once they cross the border.
For gambling news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
