Nebraska voters reject online sports betting after $22m campaign
Two constitutional measures lost despite major funding from FanDuel and DraftKings
Key Takeaways
- Nebraska voters rejected Initiatives 440 and 441 on 3 November 2026, preserving the ban on licensed mobile sports betting.
- The pro-legalisation campaign spent more than $22,000,000, with FanDuel and DraftKings contributing over $20,000,000.
- The proposals promised $166,000,000 in property-tax relief over ten years funded by an online betting activity tax.
- Nebraska will continue to allow in-person sports betting at five licensed casinos; regulated betting apps remain unavailable in-state.
Nebraska voters rejected two initiatives to legalize mobile sports betting on November 3, 2026, leaving betting apps unlicensed in the state. The pro campaign spent more than $22,000,000, funded mostly by FanDuel and DraftKings; the proposals offered $166,000,000 in property tax relief over ten years.
Results of the measures and key figures
Initiative 440 was defeated by 55% to 45%, while Initiative 441 lost by 54.5% to 45.5%. Both measures were required to enable and regulate mobile sports betting in Nebraska: 440 would have amended the constitution to allow legislation for online betting and 441 would have set the regulatory framework.
The pro campaign said an online betting activity tax would raise $166,000,000 in 10 years to reduce property taxes. FanDuel and DraftKings contributed more than $20,000,000 to the effort; WarHorse Casino also donated funds.
Operator and local leader reactions
WarHorse Casino expressed concern about losing state control over mobile betting. Lance Morgan, CEO of WarHorse Casino, warned that prediction-market platforms already offer contracts on sporting events across the United States and argued that federal commodities rules allow them to operate without state sports-betting licenses.
“It’s a little like protecting somebody by throwing them to the wolves,” said Lance Morgan.
Senator Pete Ricketts criticized the campaign after the result: “We were being sold a bill of goods about the online sports betting. We were not going to get property tax relief. That was a lie. Nebraska saw right through it and that’s why those ballot issues went down.”
Current status and options for bettors
Nebraska will continue to allow in-person sports betting at five licensed casinos; mobile apps remain outside the state licensing framework. Residents seeking regulated app betting must travel to neighboring states such as Iowa, Colorado or Wyoming. For information on licensed venues, see [casino](/casino).
Proponents had proposed licensed operators form partnerships with existing Nebraska casinos. Opponents questioned the claimed tax benefits and raised addiction risks, especially among young people. The Nebraska Family Alliance estimated residents would have to lose $830,000,000 to online bookmakers before the state reached the projected revenues.
Geography of the vote and next steps
Support was stronger in counties bordering Iowa: Dakota and Thurston favored the measures by roughly 15 and 14 percentage points, respectively. Douglas County (Omaha) backed the measures by only three points; Lancaster County (Lincoln) rejected them by 17 points, and western Nebraska also opposed them.
Opponents celebrated the win. Grasz, spokesperson for the anti campaign, said, “Nebraskans stood up to powerful gambling corporations with seemingly limitless resources and refused to let them buy their way into our state.” WarHorse Casino plans to continue backing gaming legislation, while Nebraska Family Alliance and Gambling with the Good Life said they will keep opposing future online-betting proposals.
The defeat of the measures also ruled out a possible spring 2027 launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Nebraska voters decide about mobile sports betting on 3 November 2026?
Voters rejected Initiatives 440 and 441 on 3 November 2026; Initiative 440 lost by 55% to 45% and Initiative 441 by 54.5% to 45.5%.
How much did the pro campaign cost and who funded it?
The pro campaign spent more than $22,000,000 and was primarily funded by FanDuel and DraftKings, which together contributed over $20,000,000.
What tax benefit did the measures promise?
The measures pledged $166,000,000 in property-tax relief over ten years, financed by a tax on online betting activity.
How does the decision affect residents who want to bet via apps?
Mobile betting apps remain unauthorized in Nebraska; residents must travel to neighboring states such as Iowa, Colorado or Wyoming to use regulated betting apps.
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About the author
Renata Quiroga
Betting Markets Correspondent
Renata Quiroga covers sports betting and prediction markets — sportsbook launches, odds technology, event contracts, and the regulatory calls that decide what can be bet on and where. The reports open with the product or the ruling, name operators and platforms precisely, and explain the mechanics without needless jargon. When a book enters a Latin American market or a prediction exchange lists a contested contract, Renata Quiroga reports what changes for the bettor.
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