- Top online sportsbook operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics are financially supporting a push for mobile sports betting in Nebraska.
- The platforms have contributed millions towards Tax Relief Nebraska, a group collecting signatures for petitions to legalize and regulate online sports betting in the state.
- Legalization efforts fell short in 2024 and 2025, but major financial contributions could be the difference in 2026.
LINCOLN, Neb. – Major US sports betting operators are financially supporting an online sports betting push in Nebraska. Big players like DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and BetMGM have sent millions towards a legal sports betting initiative in Cornhusker State.
More than $2.6 million was contributed towards Tax Relief Nebraska, who started pushing petitions that aim to legalize and regulate mobile sports betting in the state. They need signatures from 7% of registered voters to propose a law, and 10% of signatures for a constitutional amendment.
With roughly 1.25 million registered voters in Nebraska, it would need about 125,000 signatures to propose Nebraska online sports betting on the ballot. The other petition would need roughly 88,000 voter signatures to create the state statute. Signatures on the Online Sports Wagering Authorization Constitutional Amendment and the Online Sports Wagering Regulation Initiative are due on July 3.
Sportsbooks Spending Money On Individual Candidates
In addition to DraftKings and FanDuel each contributing $1.1 million to the ballot question committee, online sportsbook operators are contributing to individual elected officials. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers received the most, $75,000, from a combination of sports betting companies.
AG Hilgers still opposes online sports betting expansion in Nebraska, but FanDuel, BetMGM, and WarHorse Gaming are hoping that money talks. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen received $70,000 and has said that while he doesn’t personally support gambling, he is in favor of legalizing online sports betting for the tax revenue benefits.
