Tom Osborne And 44 Huskers Oppose Nebraska Sports Betting Measures

Former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne has joined more than 40 other current and former Huskers in opposing two ballot measures that would legalise mobile sports betting sites in Nebraska. 

The letter, released on October 21, 2026, carries 45 signatures in total, according to KLKN-TV and Nebraska Public Media.

Who Signed And What They Said

Coaches Ron Brown and Mark Manning signed, along with former players Turner Gill and Roy Helu Jr. and several current Nebraska baseball players. 

The letter was released by Save Nebraska Sports, a group organized in September to oppose the measures.

The signers say online sports betting would put student-athletes, Nebraska families and the integrity of college athletics at risk while benefiting out-of-state gambling companies. 

They cite game manipulation, constant gambling advertising and the harassment of athletes over lost bets as concerns, and argue that no student-athlete should face threats because bettors lost money on a game, a play or a parlay.

At a State Capitol event, representatives of the group said online betting platforms and online casinos do not care about Nebraskans. Brown, State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg and State Auditor Mike Foley spoke.

What The Measures Would Do

Both initiatives were put forward by Tax Relief Nebraska. Initiative 440 is a constitutional amendment to legalize online sports betting. 

The group turned in more than 201,000 signatures for it in late June. Initiative 441 would create the regulatory framework, tax the wagers and send 70% of the proceeds to property tax relief, the same share that comes from casino taxes. It gathered 146,000 signatures.

Under the measures, betting apps would have to partner with an established racetrack casino, and platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel would have to run a gaming server inside the state. 

Tax Relief Nebraska says the plan would bring $166 million to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund over 10 years, citing a case study on its website.

Where Nebraska Stands Today

Sports wagering in Nebraska is currently limited to in-person bets at one of the state's five racetrack casinos. 

Some lawmakers and business leaders argue that the limit means Nebraska misses out on millions of dollars in bets placed in neighboring states such as Iowa, where online sports betting is legal statewide.

Our coverage of the state's retail-only market includes the moment when Nebraska sports betting became legal. 

The new letter shows the debate over a move to mobile is now a public campaign, with each side pointing to a different set of harms and benefits.

What To Watch

The letter adds a high-profile voice to the opposition side. 

Tax Relief Nebraska has not responded in the coverage reviewed for this report, and the two sides have yet to debate the figures on property tax relief directly. 

Voters will decide whether the in-person limit stays or the state allows betting on phones.