Initiative Measure 441: Allow and Regulate Online Sports Wagering
Statewide — all of Nebraska
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Initiative Measure 441 is a citizen initiative. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen certified it for the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot on Sept. 11, 2026, and the number was assigned at random from 440-442. The Examiner reported that signature fraud allegations affected all four statewide ballot-measure petitions, that six out-of-state circulators had been arrested in a criminal investigation, and that one other initiative (from Respect Nebraska Voters) was removed from the ballot by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Its statute becomes operative on Jan. 1, 2027 per the text in the pamphlet; Initiative Measure 440 is the companion constitutional amendment.[2]
The question on the ballot
Shall statutes be enacted that: (1) Allow persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska or the operator’s platform provider; and (2) Regulate such sports wagers?[1]
Initiative 441 would amend the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act so that an authorized gaming operator at a licensed racetrack, or its contracted platform provider, may offer sports wagering through an online platform to people located in Nebraska. It defines terms (authorized sporting events exclude in-state collegiate events in which an in-state college team participates, minor league events, and high school or below events), requires the State Racing and Gaming Commission to adopt rules for online platforms on or before June 1, 2027, and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.[1]
A YES vote means
A vote FOR will enact statutes allowing persons located within Nebraska to place sports wagers through an Internet-based platform when offered by an authorized gaming operator conducting games of chance within a licensed racetrack enclosure in Nebraska or the operator’s platform provider, and regulating such sports wagers.
A NO vote means
A vote AGAINST means no such statutes will be enacted.
Arguments made for
- Official pamphlet, supporters contend: “Vote FOR Initiative 441 to create and regulate a safe and secure online wagering marketplace in Nebraska and use existing state gaming laws to direct more than $166 million to property tax relief.”[1]
- Official pamphlet, supporters contend: “More importantly, this initiative requires that 70 percent of all wagering tax revenue goes directly to Nebraska's Property Tax Credit Cash Fund.”[1]
Arguments made against
- Official pamphlet, opponents contend: “Initiative Measure 441 puts out-of-state gambling interests ahead of Nebraska taxpayers and student-athletes.”[1]
- Official pamphlet, opponents contend: “Online sports betting fuels corruption in sports and is one of the most common forms of abuse athletes receive.”[1]
On record in support
On record in opposition
- Save Nebraska Sports, an opposing campaign announced in September 2026 by the Nebraska Family Alliance, Nebraska football coach Ron Brown, State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg and State Auditor Mike Foley.[3]
Campaign money
Tax Relief Nebraska, which backs both Initiative 440 and Initiative 441, has raised $14.65 million for the election cycle, according to Nebraska Public Media citing the latest campaign finance data (a reporting period running from late July to late September 2026). DK Crown Holdings (DraftKings) and FanDuel each gave $3.5 million in that period and have each given more than $7 million for the cycle; Roar Digital (MGM) has given $500,000. The Nebraska Examiner reported that through July 27 the committee had raised $7.4 million and spent $6.93 million, and that no committee was registered in opposition at that time. No later totals for Save Nebraska Sports were found.[3][5]
Research notes & limits
Arguments are the 'Supporters contend' and 'Opponents contend' statements printed in the Secretary of State's official pamphlet, which says they are 'derived from information provided to the Secretary of State from supporters and opponents'; the pamphlet does not name the authors. The revenue figures in the arguments are the arguments' own claims, not an official fiscal estimate. The summary of Initiative 441's provisions is drawn from the full text printed in the pamphlet (the 70 percent revenue share appears only in the supporters' argument, not in the extracted bill text). Each argument item is a separate sentence from the same paragraph. No official fiscal estimate is published in the Secretary of State's pamphlet, so fiscalImpact is omitted. Finance totals come from news reports of Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission filings and are not independently checked against the portal.
Sources · 5
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.Informational Pamphlet on Initiative Measures Appearing on the 2026 General Election Ballot · Nebraska Secretary of State Official record
- 2.Secretary of State Evnen certifies Nebraska’s fall 2026 ballot after lawsuit-heavy summer · Nebraska Examiner · 2026-09-11 News report
- 3.Online sports betting petitions in Nebraska get another $7 million from DraftKings and FanDuel · Nebraska Public Media News report
- 4.Voter guide: Here are the statewide ballot measures on the November ballot · Nebraska Public Media · 2026-09-16 News report
- 5.Initiative Measure 441 (2026 General Election voter guide) · Nebraska Examiner News report