Nebraska Rejects Online Sports Betting Despite $22.5 Million Campaign

Nebraska voters have rejected two ballot measures that would have legalized online sports betting in the state.

According to unofficial returns, Initiative 440, the constitutional amendment, failed 55% to 45%. Initiative 441, the statutory framework, lost 54.5% to 45.5%. Both measures needed to pass for online betting to launch.

The result keeps legal sports betting in Nebraska limited to in-person wagers at licensed racetrack casinos.

The campaign was run by Tax Relief Nebraska, which raised nearly $22.5 million through October 29, 2026. DK Crown Holdings and FanDuel each gave $10.4 million, while BetMGM and Fanatics also contributed.

The group promised more than $166 million in property tax relief over 10 years. The plan would have allowed up to 12 mobile platforms tied to racetrack casinos, taxed at 20%.

Brendan Bussmann, managing partner of advisory firm B Global, commented:

You never tested the negatives, you ran with an argument with a non-believable number, and you took poor advice from the locals that didn’t know how to run a ballot initiative on this topic.

Opponents also questioned the tax promise. State Senator Mike Jacobson estimated that online betting would bring in about $17 million a year.

Bussmann said supporters will likely have to wait four to six years before trying the ballot route again.

Nebraska was not the only gaming defeat on November 3, 2026. Voters in three Indiana counties rejected a proposed casino, and a horse racing measure failed in Virginia.