Casinos In Nebraska Pushing For Online Sports Betting Regulation
Nebraska casinos have teamed up with sportsbooks to circulate petitions across the state asking if residents want to see legalized online sports betting on gambling websites.
If a petition can muster up signatures from 7% of the total voting public, it would effectively circumvent regulatory debate and push a vote to this year’s ballot, giving residents the power to decide.
Casino owners are confident they will get the required votes, pointing to 70% of polled residents being in favor.
However, anti-gambling groups highlight problem gambling as the main reason the initiative should be avoided.
Local Trio Hope For Ballot
Current gambling regulations in the Cornhusker State allow sports betting, but only in person at casinos. Current regulations limit the number of venues to five racinos and five tribal casinos, meaning sports betting options are restricted.
To counter this, three locals have initiated a petition to regulate online gambling.
Kyle Adema, Jordan McGrain and Tim Moran are calling on residents to sign the petition and force the issue to a public ballot. And the amateur lobbyists have not only got the backing of sportsbooks, which have an obvious incentive to push ahead, but also the state’s casinos.
Typically, physical casinos stand against the opening of mobile sports betting. They worry that online betting will diminish their own revenue.
"Current gambling regulations in the Cornhusker State allow sports betting, but only in person at casinos. Current regulations limit the number of venues to five racinos and five tribal casinos, meaning sports betting options are restricted."
However, the petition counteracts this by requiring sportsbooks to partner with local casinos when applying for licenses. This hands some of the online sportsbook revenue to local casinos.
One local casino owner, Lance Morgan of Warhorse Casino, said polling conducted on behalf of the venue has determined that 70% of voters support regulation. Therefore, if the petition gets the required votes, it is likely to culminate in regulated online betting.
Casinos are targeting a conservative 300,000 signatures, which should prove more than enough to pass. The petitioners need signatures from 7% of the people who voted in the last statewide ballot.
Tax Windfall Would Boost State
Morgan went on to say that the taxes raised by regulation would help balance the books.
He said: "When I say it’s three million a month, I think that’s right and it could be low, so it’s going to be a significant tax generator for the state."
However, he did concede that problem gambling is the main area of contention for some.
Problem gambling has seen previous legislative efforts stall. Legislative Bill 421 and Legislative Resolution 20CA were both heard during last year’s legislative session, but neither bill progressed.
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Because of Nebraska’s two-year legislative window, both have carried over to this year.
Senator Jared Storm said the bill’s sponsors should be the ones getting voter signatures to force ballot inclusion, rather than relying on the legislature to do it for them.
If the petition gains enough momentum and if voters vote to regulate online betting, regulation could be in place and sites established in time for next year’s March Madness tournament.
