Nebraska bill to legalize in-person sports betting moves forward

Sports betting in Nebraska took a big leap forward this week as the state’s lawmakers approved a bill that would legalize in-person sports betting at the state’s six-licensed horse racing tracks.

If approved, said horse racing tracks would be permitted to open retail sportsbooks and take sports bets. However, it should be noted that the final bill does not include online sports betting for the state and would only allow in-person sports betting inside brick-and-mortar sportsbooks reported Saturday Tradition.

LB561 is to be decided by a final yes or no vote before the state’s legislative session in late June, the date for the final vote is yet to be set. 

An amendment to the bill proposed by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks (D-28) that prohibited bets on home games for in-state colleges was not approved by state lawmakers. The mentioned amendment would have prohibited wagers on home games for in-state college teams. However, the amendment failed with a vote of 18-13, with 16 members choosing not to cast to a vote.

Furthermore, lawmakers voted down an amendment included in the bill that would have legalized online Keno in the state.