Despite the lack of approval for mobile wagering, Nebraska sports betting may soon allow in-person bets as early as June. Moreover, they have recently unveiled a list specifying the sports that will be available on the retail betting menu.
Limited Menu
Nebraska’s approach to sports betting will be cautious, limiting the betting options to professional North American sports as well as professional bull riding, rodeo, tennis, golf, and motorsports. College sports football, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, water polo, swimming, and field hockey are also on the betting slate.
However, no international sports will be allowed and wagering on in-state colleges like Division 1 Nebraska, Creighton, and Omaha will also be prohibited.
Also, the sports betting bill that was approved also allows wagering on Division 2 and 3 college basketball, and Division 2 football, with the same provision that any Nebraska college or university in either of those categories will too be stricken from the betting menu.
Former Coach’s Plea Shapes Sports Betting Decision
Former Nebraska Cornhusker football coach, Tom Osborne, stated in a letter to the General Affairs Committee, “I would ask that you at least protect our Nebraska athletes.” And while Osborne got his wish, the fact that college sports are on the betting menu is a boon to both bettors and taxpayers as the amount of revenue driven by college games is often equal to or greater than professional sports.
Tom Sage, Executive Director of the Racing and Gaming Commission, said a decision was reached to limit the scope of the betting options to make certain the operators could handle the influx of retail bets and would consider expanding the catalog at a later date. “We felt it was better to start out slower, with less wagering types (and) less product to bet on,” Sage said.
“This catalog more than likely will grow. I was not comfortable putting in some of the sports I did not understand,” remarked Sage.
Been a Long Time Coming
Nebraska voters approved casino gambling in sports betting back in November 2020 but the legislature prioritized the former while putting the latter on the backburner. The War Horse Casino, located at the Lincoln Race Course in southwest Lincoln, opened in September 2022 and is expected to be the first to take a legal bet in Nebraska.
The Grand Island Casino is the other designated sports betting venue but their timeline is much further down the road. Vincent Fiala, the Grand Island Casino Resort general manager, said, “Honestly, at best, it’s probably going to be next fall.”
However, the casinos are generating tax dollars for the state despite doing so in temporary facilities that will be expanded in the near future. Last year, Nebraska casinos combined to deliver $2.8 million in tax revenue despite offering only slots without table games. And in March alone, the casinos enjoyed a record-breaking month, producing $1.55 million for the state’s tax coffers.
The War Horse’s permanent digs are expected to be completed in September, featuring 1,100 slot machines, 27 table games, and sportsbook windows combined with both live and simulcast horse racing. When finished the casino will also be accompanied by a 200-room hotel and a three-story parking garage.
Calculators
