The Winnebago tribe has long been an advocate for legalized gambling in Nebraska. This tribe opened the WarHorse Casino, the first land-based casino in Nebraska, and today operates two casinos in the state - one in Omaha and the other in Lincoln.
Now they are looking to add to the state's menu of gambling offerings. The Winnebago tribe is pushing for the state to legalize online sports betting. They would like to see state lawmakers include a referendum on the issue as part of the 2026 midterm election ballot.
Tribal leaders believe the state is losing millions of dollars in tax revenue to neighboring states that have already legalized online sports betting.
“The bottom line is, you're allowing tax money to go to Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, just like with the casinos," Lynne McNally, CEO of WarHorse Casinos, told Nebraska Public Radio. "People are using VPNs, and they're disguising their location, pretending they're in Iowa.”
Nebraska State Senator Eliot Bostar is also a supporter of the legalization of online sports betting. He points to studies that estimate the state is losing $32 million in annual tax revenue that could be gained from online gambling.
Data also supports McNally's argument about people in Nebraska seeking to access betting sites in other states. According to information from GeoComply, there were 3.37 million geolocation checks in 2024 on Nebraskans seeking to place online sports bets in different states. That was a 62% increase over 2023 data.
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is planning to circulate a petition. Their objective is to gather enough signatures to compel the state to proceed with a referendum in 2026. It will require a change to the state constitution to allow the legalization of online gambling.
Tribal leaders indicate that the collection of signatures will begin in October. It will require getting signatures from 10% of the state's 1,257,860 registered voters. That works out to approximately 125,000 signatures to achieve adding the constitutional amendment proposal to next year’s ballot.
Nebraska was voting to legalize retail sports betting in 2021. However, there has been continuing resistance from state lawmakers to any attempt at moving ahead with the legalization of online sports betting.
Sen. Bostar has proven to be a staunch proponent of the legalization of online gambling. In January 2025, he introduced a bill to offer a referendum in front of the state legislature.
LR20CA was a constitutional amendment. It was designed to "permit an authorized gaming operator conducting sports wagering within a licensed racetrack enclosure to allow a sports wager to be placed by an individual located within the State of Nebraska at the time the individual places the sports wager by means of a mobile or electronic platform."
The bill passed its first committee vote. To move forward, the amendment required three additional votes, each needing two-thirds approval in the state’s unicameral legislature. After passing the first vote, a filibuster was halting further progress. Bostar pulled the bill once he realized that he didn't have the necessary votes to end the filibuster. The amendment will carry over to the 2026 legislative session.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen is a supporter of legalized online gambling in the state.
“Online sports betting is real, and it is happening in the state,” Pillen said at a press conference. “Whoever wants to do it is doing it, and we’re giving all the revenue to our neighbors.”
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