Nebraska is the Third State to Launch Legal Sports Betting in 2023
Ohio was first on the list in 2023, launching legal sportsbooks on Jan. 1. Massachusetts came next by authorizing retail sportsbook on Jan. 31 and online sportsbooks on March 10. Nebraska went live on Thursday, June 22 for sports betting when WarHorse Casino Lincoln opened the first retail sportsbook in the state.
Ho-Chunk Inc. is the parent company of WarHorse Casino. The company represents the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe. The WarHorse Lincoln facility opened in September of 2022 as a land-bases casino and its retail sportsbook opened last Thursday, June 22. WarHorse has partnered with Kambi Group to offer betting lines and odds for the sportsbook. It is managed by a former BetMGM sports betting executive.
The CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc. is Lance Morgan. He recently commented to the Lincoln Star newspaper:
“Nebraskans have been asking for the opportunity to wager on sports since the ballot initiatives were passed in 2020. We’re thrilled to be the first casino in the state to offer sports betting.”
In November of 2020 at the general election, residents voted to approve sports betting and casino gaming in Nebraska. WarHorse is the first land-based casino to launch retail sports betting in the state.
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WarHorse Sportsbook at Lincoln
The sportsbook at WarHorse Casino Lincoln features 10 sports betting kiosks and a betting window for customers. There is a centralized area that live games are broadcasted on big screen television as part of the recreational place. There is no online sports betting in the state, but WarHorse Lincoln has a mobile app that customers can use on-site for wagering on sporting events, horse races and casino games.
WarHorse Sportsbook has to pay a 20% tax on gross sports gaming revenue at the Lincoln venue. The tax covers the state’s Property Tax Credit Fund. WarHorse Lincoln will help improve the casino’s returns by the sportsbook’s revenue. WarHorse Casino also has facilities in Omaha and South Sioux City, Nebraska.
The Grand Isle Casino and Harrah’s Columbus Casino have also been awarded gaming licenses in the state, but they did not request a sports betting license at this time.
Legal Sports Betting in Nebraska
Nebraska has made the move into retail sports betting in 2023, but the online portion has not been legalized. Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission Executive Director Tom Sage recently reported that the initial goal is getting retail sports betting in place. Other expansion into online betting will come over time.
State regulators approved a limited sports wagering market in Nebraska that includes both professional and college sports. There is no sports betting market for wagering on Olympic sports or international sports including soccer, ice hockey and baseball at this time.
Nebraska was the third state that launched legal sports betting this year. The Cornhuskers join neighboring states such as Colorado, Iowa and Kansas for having retail sportsbooks.
Other States for Legal Sports Betting in 2023
Legal sports betting in Ohio was the first to launch on Jan. 1 this year. Expectations are for 25 sportsbook operators to be in place by the end of 2023. State land-based casinos have partnered with online sportsbooks. This list includes FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook as the top operators in Ohio.
Massachusetts was next for legalizing both retail and online sportsbooks in the US market. Eight online sportsbooks are live in Massachusetts including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook and Barstool Sportsbook as the top five. The three retail sportsbooks in the state are Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino.
Legal sports betting in Kentucky is probable next. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is overseeing the licensing process and the first meeting is in July to establish regulations for in-state sportsbooks. Vermont and North Carolina are the two states that will launch legal sportsbooks early next year.
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