Nebraska Casino Operators Launch Petition Drive to Put Online Sports Betting on 2026 Ballot
Nebraska casino operators are targeting 300,000 signatures to place mobile sports betting on the November 2026 ballot
Nebraska casino operators are bypassing the legislature and going straight to voters. A coalition led by WarHorse Gaming and supported by the Sports Betting Alliance has launched a petition drive to put mobile sports betting on the November 2026 general election ballot.
The Nebraska Secretary of State approved the petition language in February. Signature collection is now underway across all 93 counties.
The campaign follows years of failed legislative attempts. The ballot route is a deliberate pivot. It worked for Missouri in 2024. Organizers believe it will work here, too.
Two Petitions, One Goal
The initiative is structured around two separate petitions. The first proposes a constitutional amendment. It would add language to the Nebraska Constitution permitting laws to be enacted authorizing internet-based sports wagering. That petition requires signatures from 10% of registered voters, roughly 125,000 certified signatures.
The second petition is a companion statutory measure. It outlines the actual regulatory framework for online betting. It sets licensing requirements, mandates that all mobile platforms partner with a licensed Nebraska casino, and requires operators to house their servers within the state. That petition needs signatures from 7% of registered voters, approximately 88,000. Both petitions also require signatures from 5% of voters in at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties.
The deadline for both is July 3, 2026. Organizers are targeting 300,000 signatures total. That is well above the minimum needed for the constitutional amendment.
The buffer is intentional. Signature drives routinely produce invalid or duplicate entries, and organizers want enough cushion to qualify comfortably.
Strong Polling, Clear Tax Case
Warhorse Casino CEO Lance Morgan is confident. Internal polling shows approximately 70% public support for mobile betting in Nebraska. He said that figure was measured before sports betting became as culturally mainstream as it is today.
The economic argument is direct. Nebraska currently taxes casino sports betting at 20%. Every online bet placed through a licensed Nebraska platform would be subject to that tax. Morgan projects the mobile market could generate roughly $3 million per month in state tax revenue. He acknowledged that figure could be conservative.
Supporters are also making the cross-border leakage argument. Lynne McNally, government relations director at WarHorse Casinos, said Nebraska residents are already placing mobile bets in neighboring states like Iowa, Kansas, and Colorado.
Others are using VPNs to access out-of-state platforms. “You’re allowing tax money to go to Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, just like with the casinos,” McNally said. The companion referendum also directs online betting tax revenue primarily to the Property Tax Credit Fund, which has already used casino revenue to reduce homeowner property taxes. A $200,000 home saw a $250 reduction in 2024 from casino contributions.
Why the Legislature Failed
Nebraska’s unicameral legislature requires three successful floor votes with two-thirds support before any bill can proceed. Sen. Eliot Bostar introduced LR20CA earlier in the process. It cleared committee 6-2 and passed its first floor vote 27-16. But a filibuster prevented the bill from receiving a third vote. It died without a final decision.
That stalemate prompted operators to launch the petition campaign. Some legislators argued that the statehouse should retain authority over regulatory details rather than leaving the framework to a ballot initiative. But after repeated failures, industry leaders were unwilling to wait for another session.
What Happens If It Passes
If voters approve both measures in November 2026, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission would be required to finalize rules governing online sports wagering by June 1, 2027.
Operators would then need to obtain mobile licenses before launching. If the process moves quickly, mobile betting could be live in Nebraska in time for March Madness 2027.
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