Measures to legalize, regulate online sports betting qualify for Nebraska ballot

LINCOLN — Two statewide ballot measures seeking to legalize and regulate online sports betting have qualified to appear before Nebraska voters this November.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office confirmed Friday that the two measures — both from the group Tax Relief Nebraska — each exceeded the constitutional number of valid signatures required for the ballot. In addition to a bulk signature total, each proposal also exceeded a geographic distribution of at least 5% of voters from at least 38 of Nebraska’s 93 counties.

Absent legal action following this certification, the measures will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

“We are grateful to every Nebraskan who participated in the process and signed our petitions,” said Jordan McGrain, a sponsor of the ballot measures. “We believe voters will agree that a legal and regulated online sports wagering marketplace will keep the money in Nebraska, generating new revenue for local communities and millions of dollars in property tax relief.”

The legalization measure seeks to amend Article III, Section 24, of the Nebraska Constitution, which is the same section voters amended in 2020 to legalize gambling and casinos at licensed racetracks, sometimes referred to as “racinos.”

If approved, online sports wagering could be legal at the state’s six licensed racetracks, in Grand Island, Ogallala, Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus and South Sioux City.

A voter-led constitutional amendment needs valid signatures from at least 10% of the electorate — 138,473 valid signatures — to qualify for the ballot.

The regulatory measure would amend three existing state laws to define and provide regulation of online sports betting for someone within Nebraska at the time of the wager. Wagering servers would need to be located within Nebraska, and gaming operators could conduct wagering through no more than two platforms at one time.

If the measures are approved, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission would need to adopt rules and regulations by June 1, 2027.

A voter-led law needs valid signatures from at least 7% of the electorate — 96,918 signatures — to qualify for the ballot.

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A report commissioned by Tax Relief Nebraska estimated Nebraska could generate just under $87 million in new state tax revenue over five years if the measures are approved. As with casinos, 70% of generated revenues would be distributed toward property tax relief.

The Secretary of State’s Election Division directed local election officials to stop verifying signatures after more than 110% of signatures for each measure were verified.

Local election officials are still processing signatures for two other statewide constitutional amendments seeking to restrict K-12 and collegiate school sports participation to students’ sex at birth and make it harder for lawmakers to change voter-initiated laws.

The Lancaster County Election Commission has said it is investigating possibly fraudulent signatures on all four statewide ballot measures. Any signatures that local election officials flag as suspected to be fraudulent are not included in the counts toward valid signatures.

The Secretary of State’s Office will hold public hearings in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts for any statewide ballot measures that reach the ballot.

State officials must certify the November ballot by Sept. 11. The general election is Nov. 3.