Nebraska isn’t exactly known for being a great gambling destination, so it’s not very surprising that sports betting is illegal in Nebraska. For this reason, rather than advising you on what the best Nebraska sports betting sites are, we’ve discussed the current state of sports betting legalization and the other available gambling options.
There’s a chance that you’ve come across websites claiming to be the best Nebraska online sportsbooks, but these are in fact illegal betting sites. With sports betting still illegal, it’s impossible for these websites to get licensed. Without licensing, there’s no guarantee of fairness and safety. For the time being, we recommend enjoying other NE legal gambling options, such as horse race betting, the lottery, daily fantasy sports betting, and limited casino gambling.
Current Nebraska Sports Betting Situation
For some time after the federal court gave states permission to legalize sports betting in 2018, Nebraska’s lawmakers showed little interest in legal sportsbooks. However, after strong lobbying from a group called Keep the Money in Nebraska, it appears that legislators are beginning to take notice. Recently, three bills have been introduced that seek to legalize in-person and mobile sports wagering, which could pave the way for the creation of Nebraska online and offline sportsbook companies.
The new laws would redefine sports betting as a game of skill and make them legal without the need for a referendum. It’s unclear how popular the bill will be with voters, though the state Governor has been a vocal opponent to all forms of expanded gambling in the state. This could prove to be a major hurdle that proponents of legal sports betting may fail to overcome.
Recent research suggests NE residents place bets numbering more than $500 million per year on sports in other markets, which includes neighboring states that have already legalized the market. Offshore betting sites have been another option for people to place wagers. We highly recommend against signing up with sites that accept illegal players until licensed Nebraska sports betting sites are legalized. Although offshore and out of state sportsbooks aren’t always, they offer no player protection what so ever should something go wrong with your bets.
Are Nebraska Daily Fantasy Sports Apps Available
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests are a highly popular form of wagering that asks contestants to draft fantasy lineups of players from major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. Because of the element of skill involved, many states have differentiated DFS from chance-based gambling and have officially legalized it.
Despite years of trying to officially legalize the games, Nebraska has failed to pass any DFS laws. However, while DFS is not technically legal, it’s also not illegal, so NE tolerates the games. Players can sign up to sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel to participate in DFS, making them the closest sites available to Nebraska online bookies,
Nebraska Online Casinos
Nebraska is currently home to four tribal casinos, though gamblers are only able to bet on slot games and not table games at these establishments. Recently, it was announced that the Keep the Money in Nebraska lobby group has successfully earned enough signatures to put a referendum toward voters to legalize full-scale casino gambling in November 2020.
There are no Nebraska online gambling sites as online gambling is currently illegal in NE. However, it is completely legal to play at a social casino site, which hosts online casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots for free. Occasionally, these casinos will offer sweepstakes cash prizes to tournament winners despite players not wagering any real money.
Online State Lottery in Nebraska
The Nebraska Lottery was established in 1993 and has since raised more than $700 million for the state. A large portion of funds goes toward education programs as well as the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The system is run by a government commission simply called the Nebraska Lottery.
Available games include national draws such as the Mega Millions as well as instant scratch cards. Players are unable to buy tickets online, though it’s possible to use the official website to check on drawing schedules, odds, exclusive offers and more.
Off Track Horse Betting in Nebraska
Until Nebraska online sportsbooks are legalized, Nebraskans can bet on horse track racing at one of six horse racing tracks in NE. These tracks vary in size and include Fonner Park, Lincoln Race Course, Horsemen’s Park and Madison Downs. Events run all year round, and a recent legal effort looks to turn a number of the tracks into racinos.
Simulcast wagering on horse racing is allowed, although there are no off-track betting parlors. Considering the fact that online horse wagering is illegal in NE, players must visit a nearby track to wager on both local races as well as simulcast races from around the country.
What Would Legal Nebraska Sports Betting Look Like?
With the effort to legalize Nebraska sports betting sites still in its infancy, it’s difficult to say which elements will appeal most to lawmakers trying to pass the bill. What is likely is that the law will need to be competitive with neighboring states Colorado and Iowa if it’s to stop Nebraskans from traveling out of state to place wagers.
The most obvious way to do this will be to allow mobile wagering throughout the state. Both Iowa and Colorado offer this, with 80 percent of sports bets in Colorado made on mobile devices. It’s also likely that bettors will be able to wager on all major sports leagues, and potentially minor sports teams such as the Omaha Storm Chasers in the Pacific Coast baseball league.
Once legalized, sports betting will be regulated by the Nebraska Gaming Commission. This will ensure that only the best online betting sites are offering safe and fair betting to customers. It will also be in charge of enforcing licensing fees and tax payments, and may provide advice to the government on how they could spend the approximate $50 – $120 million in tax revenues raised from sports betting.
Final Thoughts
Nebraska is one of several states that is hard to determine if and when it will introduce legal sports betting. Opinion on the matter seems to be divided between those who can see the fiscal benefits of a few sportsbook options, and those that fervently oppose all forms of gaming expansion, such as the Nebraska Governor. For this reason, it doesn’t seem as though sports betting will be legalized until the end of 2021 at the earliest. Until then, bettors can enjoy the lottery, daily fantasy sport, race betting, and limited casino gambling at four tribal casinos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any more queries about how gambling works in Nebraska or if there are any legal Nebraska sports betting sites? Below, we’ve provided researched answers to some commonly asked questions about sports betting and online gambling in Nebraska.
Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Nebraska?
Both sports betting and online gambling is illegal in Nebraska. Online gambling bans apply to all legal gambling activities, including sportsbooks, casinos, etc., although daily fantasy sports is quite similar to online gambling. We believe that once sports betting is legalized in NE, it will likely be available online.
What is the Nebraska legal gambling age?
There are three minimum gambling ages in Nebraska. The state laws require players to be over the age of 18 to sign up for a DFS account and bet on horse racing. Nebraska is the only state in the US that requires players be over the age of 19 to buy a lottery ticket. To gamble at a casino, players must be over 21 years old.
Are unlicensed sportsbooks sites safe?
It is not safe to use unlicensed sportsbooks websites. To offer legal gambling in Nebraska, all gaming operators and casinos must go through a stringent application process to earn licenses. Licensing is an important step for operators to take to prove their commitment to protecting their customers. Bookies that don't display licensing info clearly are not trustworthy sites.
Can I use off-shore or out-of-state internet betting sites to bet?
Although offshore betting sites may appear to be available in the state, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these websites are legal. Additionally, the only way you can legally bet at out-of-state internet betting sites is if you travel to these states and use licensed websites. We suggest residents travel to these states or waiting for the laws to change if they want to gamble safely.
Can I use the FanDuel or DraftKings app in Nebraska?
FanDuel and DraftKings can be downloaded in Nebraska, though you will not be able to bet on sports using their platforms. However, players can use the apps to bet on daily fantasy sports. Once sports betting is legalized, we bet that the DraftKings sportsbook will be available as a legal Nebraska sports betting app.
Can I bet on horse racing in Nebraska?
Yes you can bet on horse racing in Nebraska. There are six horse tracks to wager on in the state that you can bet at on both local and simulcast races. Online horse race betting is unavailable and there are no off-track betting parlors.