DraftKings and FanDuel Add Millions to Nebraska Online Betting Referendum Ahead of November Ballot

DraftKings and FanDuel each contributed $3.5 million to the campaign for legal online sports betting in Nebraska, part of an additional $7 million from the pair that brings total operator support above $14 million. BetMGM added $250,000 on Sept. 18. The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission released the campaign finance data through Sept. 29, as reported by InGame.

Two measures will appear on the November ballot: a constitutional amendment to legalize online sports betting and an initiative establishing a framework for it. Both must pass for online betting to become legal. In-person wagering has been available since June 2023 after approval on the November 2020 ballot.

The Tax Relief Nebraska campaign ties revenue from online betting to property tax reductions. It faces opposition from Save Our Sports, backed by the Nebraska Family Alliance, Tom Osborne, the state auditor, the state treasurer, and a Nebraska football assistant coach. The group has called the tax relief promise a “scam” and argued that “putting a casino in every Nebraskan’s pocket” is a recipe for disaster.

All six border states offer legal sports betting, with regulated mobile wagering in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming. The proposed structure sets a 20% tax rate, allows each approved facility up to two online betting partners, and requires the gaming regulator to promulgate rules by June 1, 2027.

Pennsylvania and Georgia Legislative Activity

In Pennsylvania, Rep. Joe Webster is seeking support for a bill that would require gambling companies to send gamblers monthly financial statements. Webster cited an Australian study that found such statements helped the most severe problem gamblers make a positive change in their behavior. He noted an increase in self-reported problem gambling since sports betting and online casinos launched in 2019, with calls to the state’s problem gambling hotline about online sports betting or gambling up 300% between 2021-24.

Pennsylvania’s legislative session runs through Nov. 30. Webster’s term ends the same day and he is running for reelection. New York lawmakers approved a similar proposal earlier this year.

Georgia plans to try again on sports betting in 2027. Rep. Matt Hatchett introduced a bill early in the 2026 session that would legalize without a constitutional amendment. It would allow up to 18 online sports betting platforms, including eight tethered to professional sports teams or leagues and one for the Georgia Lottery Corp. The lottery would regulate, with a 25% tax on adjusted gross revenue, an annual $1.5 million licensing fee, and a $100,000 application fee.

Where Voter and Legislative Risks Lie

The contrast with Missouri, where proponents spent about $43 million against $15 million from opponents, shows the scale of funding required. Organized opposition in Nebraska and ongoing disagreements in Georgia over platform counts, tax rates, revenue allocation, and the need for a referendum introduce clear adoption risks. Operators and regulators should monitor the November outcome and 2027 sessions closely, as border-state competition intensifies and consumer-protection proposals like Pennsylvania’s add new compliance layers.

Reporting: InGame

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