Nebraska Lawmakers Launch Group to Oppose Sports Betting

Opponents of a legal Nebraska sports betting market aren’t giving up their fight quite yet. 

A group of lawmakers from the Cornhusker State have joined with former coaches from the Huskers’ football program to form “Save Nebraska Sports.” The group was announced at the state Capitol yesterday and promised to oppose the effort to legalize sports betting during November’s midterm elections.

The new coalition will oppose Tax Relief Nebraska, which is behind the effort to legalize sports betting. 

In the SNS’s first press conference, Auditor Mike Foley accused the rival group of lying to residents about their true motivations.

“The goal of Tax Relief Nebraska, FanDuel, and DraftKings is to entice young men, who are already following sports, and want to engage them in online sports betting. This will put betting on steroids,” he said, according to the Plains Sentinel. “The pitch to voters to vote ‘yes’ on this thing is the promise of property tax relief.”

Foley also mentioned that Tax Relief Nebraska has not released the study showing the true impact of legal online sports betting on property tax relief. 

Nebraska Coaches Defend Athletes

While Nebraska lawmakers in SNS focus on the numbers, former Huskers coaches spoke about the impact on athletes.

“As a coach, I saw firsthand the immense pressure student-athletes face,” former coach Tom Osborne said in a statement shared with Nebraska Public Media. “Some of the harshest criticism athletes receive is not for losing but for failing to beat a points spread or reach a certain number of yards, completions, or touchdowns,” he said. “Online sports gambling turns athletic contests into a gambling exercise.”

Osborne’s words echo those of many NCAA officials, who have been vocal about the impact legal sports betting is having on athletes. It has led to a spike in harassment from angry bettors and created a temptation that could ruin athletes' careers.

According to a study conducted by the NCAA, 36% of men’s college basketball athletes have reported being harassed on social media.