Nebraska governor signs sports betting bill into law

Sports betting is legal in Nebraska as governor Pete Ricketts signs the bill passed by the legislature last week.

US.- Nebraska’s sports betting and gambling bill has been signed into law by Governor Pete Ricketts.

The bill permits betting at brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. It includes wagering on both professional and collegiate sports with the exception of in-state college athletic events. An amendment to the state constitution bans betting on in-state amateur sports.

The legislation allows horse racing tracks to also offer gaming, an initiative that governor Ricketts had opposed in the past. 

Online betting was originally covered in the bill but was removed after a debate among lawmakers.

Online betting doesn’t make it into law

Voters in Nebraska approved legalisation to allow casinos in the state back in November, approving a constitutional amendment to allow casinos in spite of opposition from Governor Ricketts. Lawmakers then had to work on the details of how the state’s gaming industry would be regulated.

One of the points of contention was whether to allow mobile keno. Lawmakers finally voted 27-11 to remove the possibility from the legislation.

Some have forecast that the future casino industry will hurt the keno segment, which is a major tax contributor in the state.

With mobile keno off the cards, the game will remain in its traditional paper format, leaving it without the full range of tools to battle the newly regulated casino segment.