Two betting companies up the ante, contribute $3M supporting Nebraska online betting initiatives

It might be primary election day, but sports betting companies are looking ahead to November.

FanDuel and DraftKings, also listed under subsidiary DK Crown Holdings, each donated $1.5 million in April to the committee organizing two ballot measures that would legalize online sports wagering in Nebraska.

Nebraska Public Media News reported the same two online betting platforms previously gave more than $1.1 million each to Tax Relief Nebraska. That’s the group currently collecting signatures on two measures. One would amend the constitution to legalize online wagering, and the other would create a state statute to regulate it.

Sports betting is currently legal in Nebraska, but wagers have to be placed in person at a licensed racetrack casino. There are five up and running in the state: in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Columbus and Ogallala.

In total, Tax Relief Nebraska has received more than $5.6 million in donations this year, according to its April report.

Subsidiaries of MGM and Fanatics Betting and Gaming previously donated $250,000 and $75,000 to the ballot committee, respectively, under the names Roar Digital and FBG Enterprises.

A litany of local and national gambling stakeholders also donated a combined $145,000 to the campaigns of Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers from the start of 2025 through early April. Various candidates in the state legislature have also received donations from gaming operators.

Hilgers told Nebraska Public Media News last month that he continues to oppose expanding gambling in Nebraska. Pillen also openly opposed gambling but supports the increased tax revenue that it provides. In Nebraska, 70% of gaming taxes currently go toward the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. A similar chunk of online wagering would go to that account as well. Cutting property taxes has been one of the biggest issues the governor has taken up since being elected in 2022.

WarHorse Casinos, which operate in Lincoln and Omaha, have publicly backed the petitions and have donated $20,000 to Pillen’s campaign since 2025. In April, WarHorse Director of Government Relations Lynne McNally said the company’s support of politicians is no different than any other lobbying industry or organization. She added that WarHorse contributes to candidates who will understand its issues.

The petitions have received public backing from a national group called the Sports Betting Alliance.

If the measure lands on the November ballot and voters approve it, betting apps would have to partner with an established racetrack casino to function. Platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel would also be required to run a gaming server within the state.

The petition attempting to amend the Nebraska Constitution would need valid signatures from at least 10% of people registered to vote in Nebraska, or about 125,000 voters. For the second petition that aims to create the state statute, organizers would need to collect valid signatures from just 7% of people registered to vote in Nebraska, or about 88,000 voters.

Both petitions would need to collect valid signatures from at least 5% of the registered voters in at least 38 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. CBS Sports reported last week that Tax Relief Nebraska said it was on pace to collect the required amount of signatures for the constitutional amendment, which has the higher standard to make the general election ballot. The deadline to submit signatures is July 3.