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With lawmakers in Lincoln holding back on online betting, casino operators have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Partnering with sports wagering companies, they are now driving a petition campaign to put the issue directly before voters in 2026. Organizers say the effort is built around two petitions, one seeking a constitutional amendment and another a statutory change, with both designed to clear the way for legal mobile sports betting.
Lance Morgan, CEO of Warhorse Casino, explained the threshold in a WOWT report, stating, “We need signatures from five percent of the people who voted in the last election, that number, so if 100 people voted you need five, but you need it from 38 counties.”
To leave no doubt, organizers are aiming for 300,000 signatures, far above the minimum required.
Polls show 70% of Nebraskans want online sports betting
Support for legal mobile sports betting in Nebraska appears strong, with polling showing approval at around 70%. Morgan added, “I don’t think it will be any trouble getting it passed. Our polling shows it’s somewhere around 70 percent approval rating. And that’s before sports betting really took off here.”
Even with that level of backing, Morgan acknowledged that opponents remain. He noted that anti-gambling groups raise valid concerns about abuse and addiction. Meanwhile, lawmakers are focused on balancing the state budget and finding ways to deliver property tax relief.
Morgan argued that online betting could help, estimating $3 million a month in new revenue, possibly more. He believes that urgency will push lawmakers to act quickly if voters approve the measure, unlike the delays seen with medical marijuana.
“We had a little bit of a delay on the gaming, on the casino, but we got it going. But I think it’s obviously open now, and I think the urgency to create the tax revenue will probably make some sense,” Morgan said.
“I think that the state itself understands that this is something the people want,” he added.
Petitions must be submitted in July, and organizers say Nebraskans could be placing bets on their phones by March Madness next year if the initiative succeeds.
