Nebraska lawmakers have been debating the merits of legalizing online sports betting, with retail sportsbooks already up and running in the state. One senator, in particular, has expressed some bizarre positions about the proposed ballot measure.
manipulating the results of sporting events like the Super Bowl
Senator Robert Dover suggested that legal sportsbooks are potentially manipulating the results of sporting events like the Super Bowl to ensure the result goes in their favor. He thinks this sort of behavior could get more extreme if Nebraska goes ahead and legalizes betting:
Dover also claims that suicide rates would skyrocket, despite no similar trend being seen in the 30+ states that already have live sportsbooks.
It appears that Legislative Resolution 20CA won’t progress any further in the current legislative session that ends on May 30. Senator Eliot Bostar pulled the proposal on Wednesday ahead of a vote to let lawmakers proceed with debating other matters.
Those opposing legalization point toward potential addiction and social harm issues, as well as skepticism about the projected $33m in additional annual tax revenue it would generate.
