DraftKings and FanDuel Inject $20.8M Combined Into Nebraska Mobile Betting Push

DraftKings and FanDuel have each contributed $10.4 million to support two sports-betting ballot initiatives in Nebraska, according to campaign finance disclosures. The combined $20.8 million accounts for nearly all of the money raised by Tax Relief Nebraska, the committee behind the measures, making the two companies the dominant financial backers of the effort.

Nebraska voters are set to decide the two initiatives on Tuesday, Nov. 3. If approved, the measures would legalize mobile sports betting in the state, a move that would allow residents to place wagers online rather than only at licensed retail locations.

The substantial spending by the two sportsbook operators highlights their interest in expanding into new online wagering markets. Both companies have previously funded similar ballot campaigns in other states, though the Nebraska effort represents a significant investment relative to the size of the state's population.

Tax Relief Nebraska has framed the initiatives as a way to generate additional tax revenue for the state. The committee's fundraising total is largely composed of the two $10.4 million contributions, leaving little room for other donors to influence the campaign's direction.

With the election days away, the outcome will determine whether Nebraska becomes one of the growing number of states allowing mobile sports betting. The result will also signal whether heavy outside spending from major operators can sway voters on gambling expansion in a state that has historically been cautious on the issue.