Should Nebraska undergo a comprehensive gambling reform, including regulated bookmakers, beloved Huskers may be absent from the board. A recent legislative amendment will prevent Nebraska bookmakers from taking action against state college competitions.
The amendment is a compromise aimed at providing support to bookmakers and new casinos in the state. The unicameral legislature of the state will now continue knowing that the bets in the states are off the table.
Why should you ban betting in Nebraska Sportsbooks?
Nebraska voters voiced support for casino gambling during the November 2020 elections. Only then did the legislator determine the details. The main proposal is to upgrade the facilities on the current six racetracks to include full service casinos.
In addition, key lawmakers advocate selling retail bookmakers in new casinos. Initially, opponents argued that bookmakers were different from voter-approved casino games. However, the Nebraska bookmakers were determined to be games of chance and therefore legal casino bets.
But opposition to the bookmakers threw going through the entire bill. Senator Patty Pansing Brooks (D-Lincoln) says allowing bets would ruin the atmosphere at Huskers football matches. Other senators were incredulous as to how many fans are already betting on their favorite team. Dream. Pansing Brooks responded to this argument by saying, "go to Iowa and keep betting."
Effects of a state college betting ban
Proposed Gambling in Nebraska Reform Act passed first vote 37 - 5. Due to exceptional laws in Nebraska, the bill must receive at least 33 votes after final reading. Politicians twice withdrew the bill from the next vote due to hesitating support.
The prohibition to bet on any competition at state college games is intended to strengthen this support. Exceptionally, this only prevents betting when teams are playing in Nebraska. So any Huskers or Creighton road games would be in the game. However, this may cost the state a lot of income. Senator Adam Morfeld (D-Lincoln) explicitly called this bizarre distinction "puritan nonsense."
An industry expert recently told the Illinois House Committee that banning a college in state could cost 17% of the entire handle. Of course, there is no school in Illinois that provides as much of the state economy as Nebraska. But Illinois has mobile bookmakers, something that is not covered by the Nebraska Sports Betting Act.
This raises a question for Senator Pansing Brooks says betting is spoiling the atmosphere at the Huskers games. If the people of Nebraska can only place bets in person at casinos, how can the bets affect players at the stadium? Most likely, he is simply opposing all bookmakers and using this argument as an excuse.
Now that state college betting is no longer part of the gambling bill, his outlook has improved. Recently, the legislator's marshal indicated that he plans to end this year's session earlier, on May 27. Nebraskans won't have to wait long to find out exactly what legal bets they can place.
Brad Vanderhide
Brad Vanderhide is an avid blackjack player and sportsbook whose only rule is never to bet on or against the beloved Cleveland Browns. With a background in politics, law, and government compliance, his articles provide a general overview of the changing online gambling landscape. As a native of Ohio, Brad is looking forward to getting his state out of its way and opening up legalized sports betting and online casino games.