US midterms put Nebraska sports betting, Virginia racing and Indiana casino on ballot

As voting in the US midterm elections got under way, gambling measures on ballots in Nebraska, Virginia and Indiana stood out for parts of the industry.

Nebraska online sports wagering

In Nebraska, voters faced Initiatives 440 and 441, which were designed to work together. Measure 440 is a constitutional amendment that would permit the legislature to authorise online sports wagering for operators connected to a licensed racetrack that offers wagering. Measure 441 is a statutory initiative that would grant Nebraska’s Gaming Commission the ability to implement rules governing online sports betting and regulate the market. Both measures must pass for the proposed system to be approved. The proposals also direct the state gambling commission to adopt sports wagering rules by 1 June 2027.

At a legal betting hearing in spring 2025, opponents dominated the floor. Les Bernal from Stop Predatory Gambling called legal betting “an epic policy failure.” Measure 441 received support from at least four major US sportsbooks: BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics.

Virginia and Indiana

In Virginia, voters in the town of Pulaski and in Amherst County faced questions on whether pari-mutuel wagering should be permitted at satellite facilities under state law. In Amherst, voters rejected a similar proposal in 2021 by 7,293 votes to 6,189.

In Indiana, Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties each had a referendum asking whether in-land casino gambling should be permitted locally. Governor Mike Braun signed HB 1038 into law on 4 March, creating a new state casino licence, with the Indiana Gaming Commission due to decide by 15 April 2027. The winning bidder would face a $150 million licence fee and a $500 million minimum capital investment within five years.