The Wording

A vote “FOR” will amend the Nebraska Constitution to authorize the enactment of laws to allow persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska.

A vote “AGAINST” means the Nebraska Constitution will not be amended in this manner.Shall the Nebraska Constitution be amended to authorize the enactment of laws allowing persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska?

(   )   For

(   )   Against

Our Explanation

It used to be that the only place for legalized gambling was in the state of Nevada.  Now, though, many states have authorized varying levels of gambling. 

Nebraska has a state lottery, local KENO, limited horse racing, Tribal Gaming Casinos, etc.  In-person sports gambling is also permitted, but this initiative would allow online sports wagering, also.

The stated objective of this initiative is:  "The object of this petition is to 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."  

Those who support the initiative see the potential for decreasing property tax, since gaming provides revenue to the state, which has legislation directing a certain percentage of tax revenue from gambling to property tax relief / education funding. Proponents see it as a more straightforward way to address the property tax issue – adding a revenue stream instead of trying to do legislative “fixes” to the tax structure, which has proven to be difficult.  They also note that Nebraskans are already doing online sports gambling; they are just doing it in other states, so Nebraska is losing that revenue.  Proponents also suggest that this initiative will increase income because Internet sports betting is expanding rapidly.

Those who oppose the initiative are concerned about worsening problems caused by gambling. Nebraskans will lose a great deal of money gambling; the possibility of fraud increases; dangers exist for athletes who are being bet on; and many people become addicted, which is a public health concern. 

Opponents also note that the initiative says nothing about property tax relief, and that any property tax relief would be so small as to be meaningless. Nebraska collected $5.3 billion in property taxes in 2025, but the initiative’s advertisements state that it only would bring in an estimated $166 million over 10 years. A yearly $16.6 million out of $5.3 billion is almost nothing.    The out-of-state financial support for gathering signatures and current advertising coming from gambling entities suggests those businesses will benefit more than the taxpayers. 

Voting FOR the initiative will amend the Nebraska Constitution to authorize Internet-based sports wagering.

Voting AGAINST means the amendment will not happen.

See also Secretary of State Pamphlet