Nebraska lawmakers recently heard testimony on a series of proposals in the General Affairs Committee that would drastically expand online gambling and sports betting statewide; remove critical safeguards; and put families, children and student-athletes at risk.
Nebraska Family Alliance (nebraskafamilyalliance.org) strongly opposes these bills and testified against the legislation alongside Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling, Pat Loontjer of Gambling With The Good Life, faith and community leaders and individuals who have been impacted by the harms of gambling.
LR 20CA would allow the gambling industry to bypass Nebraska’s ballot initiative signature collection process and place a constitutional amendment to legalize online and mobile sports betting directly on the ballot. LB 421 and LB 438 allow bets to be placed electronically from any phone, tablet and computer anywhere in the state, and LB 63 expands sports betting on all Nebraska colleges and university sports teams.
Nebraska Family Alliance Executive Director Nate Grasz gave the following statement:
“Sports betting is already legal in our state. This is about turning every device in every home and pocket into an online casino. By combining technology, smartphones and gambling, people can lose their house without ever leaving their house.
States with online sports betting have seen massive increases in addiction, bankruptcy, suicide and domestic violence while decreasing household spending and savings. These costs aren’t just unfortunate side effects; they are the necessary components of an industry that relies on addiction and exploitation.
Nebraska Family Alliance believes lawmakers should not be offering the gambling industry political favors at the expense of Nebraska families and communities, so it urges lawmakers to reject these predatory expanded gambling proposals and protect families and student-athletes.
For more information, visit nebraskafamilyalliance.org.