America’s most popular professional sports league is holding its last game of the season on Sunday with millions of sports fans expected to wager on Super Bowl LIX.
Nebraska, a sports-crazed state of 2 million, is one of the last remaining U.S. markets to not offer regulated online sports betting. The lack of online wagering opportunities has led a flurry of Nebraskans traveling across state lines to neighboring Iowa to place their bets.
“Lawmakers in Nebraska may feel like sports betting isn’t something that constituents want when in reality there is a large demographic that participates in this very popular activity,” Corridor Consulting founder and CEO John Pappas told SBC Americas.
Betting Hero, an activation and research leader in the global sports betting and iGaming industries, has located the “busiest cornfield in America” where hundreds of sports fans travel from Nebraska to Iowa weekly to legally place their wagers with online operators.
Using geolocation data provided by GeoComply, Betting Hero has released a study detailing how state gaming laws impact the behavior of residents who want to wager.
Betting Hero finds a hot spot
Betting Hero, using a pool of 51 respondents, surveyed the traveling and gambling behavior of Nebraskans who made the trip to the busiest cornfield in America in November 2024.
The group was comprised of 87% males with an average age of 36. The youngest respondent included in Betting Hero’s research was 22 with the oldest being 61.
Respondents cited the difficulty of cashing out as a key factor for not wagering at retail sportsbooks. The inconvenience of entering a retail operation or casino is also a factor.
“I do not have to worry about ever getting my money out because these are real companies and have good products,” an anonymous survey respondent told Betting Hero.
Betting Hero’s research found that 52% of participants have never wagered at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in Nebraska with only 21% of wagering at retail operations.
The lengthy NFL season saw 88% of the surveyed group make the trip weekly to the busiest cornfield in America with the majority of the group saying they wouldn’t make the trip if Nebraska offered its residents and visitors safe and regulated online wagering.
DraftKings and FanDuel emerged as the top online sportsbooks for those who traveled from Nebraska to Iowa. Caesars and ESPN Bet were also found to be frequently used. The operators have found favor with NFL fans behind their bonuses and promotions.
“I much rather bet at the fingertips of my phone with the convenience to browse all the options and place bets at my own pace,” added another survey respondent.
Online sports betting bill in Nebraska
Several lawmakers in Nebraska are making an effort to bring online wagering to the state as it loses potential revenue due to the influx of sports fans crossing state borders to bet.
“You have the opportunity to generate additional tax revenue and do so in a safe and regulated manner if you bring online sports betting to Nebraska,” said Betting Hero Sr. Director of Product & Research Ernie Ropas III.
Last month, Nebraska Sen. Stanley Clouse introduced Legislative Bill 421 as a measure that proposes an amendment to the Revised Statutes of Nebraska to authorize online sports betting. LB 421 proposes wagering to be conducted under the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act with regulation by the state’s Racing and Gaming Commission.
LB 421 has been referred to the General Affairs Committee for further consideration. The measure is poised to garner support from Nebraska sports fans with 67% of Betting Hero’s respondents saying they would support a lawmaker who is in favor of online sports betting.
In 2024, Nebraska lawmakers attempted to bring online sports betting to the state during a special legislative session that lasted 17 days. During the special session, Sen. Elliot Bostar introduced LR3CA, which proposed online sports betting through licensed casinos.LR3CA failed after not being discussed on the Senate floor during the special session.
