Action Alert: Stop the Expansion of Online Gambling in Nebraska

The gambling industry is pushing to amend the Nebraska Constitution to legalize online sports gambling so they can exploit more men and women for profit.

This legislation would allow gambling companies to bypass Nebraska’s ballot initiative signature collection process and be placed directly on the ballot, avoiding signature collection and campaign requirements that other groups must follow. Lawmakers should not be offering the gambling industry political favors at the expense of Nebraska families and communities.

LR 20CA: A constitutional amendment that would expand sports gambling from inside licensed racetracks to mobile and electronic platforms statewide, removing critical safeguards and allowing full-scale online gambling 24/7 from any phone, tablet, and computer.

LB 421 and LB 438: Implements online sports gambling following the legalization of online gambling in the Nebraska Constitution, allowing bets to be placed electronically from anywhere in the state.

LB 63: Expands sports betting on all Nebraska colleges and university sports teams, including in-game wagering, increasing losses and putting the safety and well-being of our student-athletes at risk.

TAKE ACTION

This dangerous expansion of online gambling would increase addiction, cause financial devastation, and harm children and families. You can take two critical action steps: (1) email the senators on the General Affairs Committee, urging them to reject each of the expanded gambling proposals, and (2) submit an online comment opposing LR 20CA.

Submit an online comment opposing LR 20CA before 8:00 AM (CST) on Monday, March 10, to be included in the official hearing record.

• • STEP 1: Access the LR 20CA bill summary page.
  • STEP 2: Click “Submit Comments Online For LR 20CA” in the center of the page.
  • STEP 3: Click “I Understand” in the Written Submission pop-up window.
  • STEP 4: Select “Yes” under “Include Comment in Hearing Record,” fill out the form, and submit your comment as an “opponent.” You will receive an email asking you to confirm your comment.

Nebraska has a citizen initiative process for amending our constitution, and the gambling industry should not be allowed to sidestep it. These proposals will increase profits for the gambling industry at the cost of men, women, and children. 

Gambling devastates lives. The Nebraska Legislature should not be doing the gambling industry’s bidding.

TALKING POINTS

Please personalize your comments and add 2-3 talking points below.

Gambling is the most regressive, unreliable, and harmful form of state revenue because it exploits the poor and financially desperate, increases social costs, worsens state budgets, deceives the public, and hurts families.

With online sports gambling, people can gamble directly from their bank accounts without ever leaving their homes or interacting with another person. 

The consequences for families and children are devastating, leading to severe increases in gambling losses, addiction, abuse, and bankruptcies, decreased household spending and savings, and exposure to predatory gambling advertisements.

Sports gambling is harmful to children and will radically change the way that children consume sports. 

Research shows that in states with online sports gambling:

• • The high frequency of sports gambling advertising has normalized gambling for kids.
  • Calls to gambling addiction helplines have more than doubled.
  • Bankruptcies have risen 28%, with families losing everything to online betting schemes.
  • Threats to the integrity of competition and harassment of athletes have increased dramatically, including death threats.

Expanding gambling on the backs of our student-athletes and at the expense of our children is not a solution for Nebraska.

I urge the committee to reject expanded gambling and vote against each of the expanded gambling bills. Thank you for your time and consideration.