Nebraska Still Without Legal Sports Betting: Sen. Eliot Bostar Pulls LR 20CA Bill

Nebraska’s Sports Betting Bill Fizzles Out

The LR 20CA bill was never a sure thing. Its odds of passing were so-so at best. Still, it got a boost when it cleared the first of three required votes with a 27-16 tally, despite six lawmakers being absent.

Sen. Bostar, the main cheerleader for legal sports betting in Nebraska, hit a wall fast. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t drum up enough backing. By Wednesday, it was obvious the bill was doomed, so he pulled the plug.

The plan was to let Nebraska voters decide on sports betting through a referendum, similar to the 2020 vote that legalized casinos in the Cornhusker State. If voters had given the green light, Nebraska would’ve launched an online sports betting market with up to six operators, who’d have to team up with licensed horse racing tracks in the state.

But that’s not happening. Nebraska’s online sports betting bill is stuck in neutral, and it won’t budge in 2025.

A Dry Spell for Sports Betting Laws

This year’s been a snooze for states legalizing sports betting. The only sure thing is Missouri, where voters approved a sports betting market in a November referendum, set to go live soon.

Now, just one state is still in the game for legal sports betting in 2024: Hawaii, of all places. Its bill recently hit a snag when the House rejected the Senate’s version, but it’s not dead yet. The bill’s now in a conference committee, which keeps hope alive.

The sticking point in Hawaii? License fees. Some operators are actually pushing for higher fees to speed things up and boost the bill’s chances. Hawaii’s Gov. Green isn’t standing in the way either. He’s said he’s neutral on betting but wouldn’t mind the extra tax revenue for the state.

While Nebraska’s dreams of legal online sports betting are toast, Hawaii has until May 2 to hammer out a deal.