LINCOLN, Nebraska (WOWT) – Following the legalization of casinos in Nebraska and with gambling becoming increasingly important in the sports and entertainment industries, some lawmakers say it’s time to hit the brakes in the Cornhusker State.

A special session dealing with Nebraska’s property tax cut entered its 14th day of debate on Friday. One possible solution could be to expand the legalization of gambling in the state. For this reason, a group of 13 senators released the following statement:

Senators John Lowe, Ray Aguilar, Joni Albrecht, Robert Clements, Robert Dover, Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran, Brian Hardin, Rick Holdcroft, Loren Lippincott, Rita Sanders and Julie Slama made the statement.

Mobile betting has exploded in popularity over the past five years since the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2018 struck down a 1992 federal law that banned sports betting in most states. Before that court decision, sports bettors could only try their luck—legally, at least—in Las Vegas. Now, sportsbooks and online casinos like Fanduel and DraftKings are available at the touch of a button in 26 states.

Nebraska’s eastern neighbor Iowa legalized it in August 2019, while southern Kansas’ law will allow mobile gambling in the summer of 2022. And it’s important to remember that mobile gambling legalization isn’t limited to sports betting. In some states, popular sports betting apps have become full-fledged pocket casinos, with games like roulette, poker and blackjack.

However, Nebraska lawmakers are sticking to their strategy of largely blocking the mobile gaming industry from entering their state, and this group of 13 state senators is determined to keep it that way.

In their statement on Friday, they cited data from the National Council on Problem Gambling that found online sports betting increased the risk of gambling addiction by 30 percent, while the council’s helpline reported a 150 percent increase in calls. The data also shows that 20 percent of college students gamble with student finance money.

However, their opponents’ argument boils down to the amounts of money being collected in states that have already legalized mobile casinos and sports betting.

Since the law changed in 2019, Iowa has seen over $9 billion in bets placed and $44 million in tax revenue collected in return, with a share of just 7.3 percent – the lowest of any state except Nevada. In states with a higher share, such as Louisiana, $6 billion in bets have been converted into $108 million in tax revenue.

Nebraska is not completely anti-gambling compared to some other states. Casino licenses have been granted in several locations in the state, including a WarHorse Casino in Lincoln that opened in 2022 and a brand new one in Omaha.

Against this background, the group of 13 senators fears that mobile gambling will soon follow suit, as has been shown in the states that have already preceded Nebraska in this process.

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