Nebraska Voters Reject Online Sports Betting in US Midterms
Published: November 4, 2026 | Author: Roxy Vance
Nebraska voters rejected two ballot measures that would have legalized online sports betting, and voters in three northeast Indiana counties turned down a new casino, according to unofficial results from the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton, whose campaign has said she is open to legal online casinos, won the governor’s race.
Nebraska: Online Betting Stays Illegal
Initiative 441, which would have set up the rules and tax structure for mobile sports wagering, failed 54.5% to 45.5%, and Initiative 440, the companion constitutional amendment, failed by a similar 55% to 45%, WOWT reported. The totals stay unofficial until the Nebraska Secretary of State certifies the vote.
The result ends a campaign of more than $22 million by Tax Relief Nebraska, a coalition backed by the state’s casinos and online sports betting groups. Supporters argued that legal apps would capture money Nebraskans already bet illegally or across state lines, with the proceeds going to property tax relief.
Opponents, including Gambling with the Good Life, the Open Door Mission and the Nebraska Family Alliance, raised concerns about addiction risks for young people and questioned whether the tax relief would come. “Nebraskans stood up to powerful gambling corporations with seemingly limitless resources and refused to let them buy their way into our state,” said Nate Grasz, the alliance’s executive director. US Senator Pete Ricketts, who was reelected, said: “We were being sold a bill of goods about the online sports betting.”
Northeast Indiana: No New Casino
Voters in Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties all said no to Public Question No. 3, which asked: “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in (your) county?” In Allen County, 61,310 voted against and 41,625 in favor, about 59.6% against, in final unofficial results reported by WPTA 21Alive. About 64.6% voted no in DeKalb County and about 58.7% in Steuben County.
The 2026 law behind the vote, House Enrolled Act 1038, allowed one new inland casino in one of the three counties. Its developer would have had to invest at least $500 million in the casino, a hotel and at least one restaurant, and pay the state $150 million over five years. With all three referendums defeated, the Indiana Gaming Commission cannot award a license to Allen County casino developers, and the law bars a second vote in those counties.
Ohio: A Governor Open to Online Casinos
Acton beat Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor’s race, according to ABC News. Online casino gambling is not legal in Ohio. During the campaign, her spokesperson, Addie Bullock, told Cleveland.com that Acton is open to exploring it and “would prioritize mental health protections,” adding: “Consumers should be able to spend their money how they please.”
What It Means for Players
In Nebraska, sports bets can still only be placed in person at the licensed racetrack casinos, as they have since voters approved casino gaming in 2020; betting on phones and online stays illegal. In northeast Indiana, no new casino will be built under the 2026 law.
What Happens Next
The Nebraska Secretary of State still has to certify the results. In Ohio, online casinos remain illegal, and Acton’s position so far comes from her campaign’s statement.
