Nebraska’s Catholic Bishops; Archbishop Michael G. McGovern of the Omaha Archdiocese, Bishop James D. Conley of the Lincoln Diocese, and Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt of the Grand Island Diocese; have announced their opposition to Initiatives 440 and 441 on November’s ballot.
Initiatives 440 and 441 directly relate to the regulation and eventual allowance of sports gambling in Nebraska.
The Bishops made their opposition public on Tuesday with the Nebraska Catholic Conference, saying that “Online sports gambling often targets people who are vulnerable to addiction, especially young men and teenagers.” Their full statement is below.
Reasons for voting against the initiative by the bishops include exploiting users, family breakdowns, and threats and harassment towards athletes. They also said that with the claim of $166 million in property tax relief, Nebraskans would have to lose $800 million in online gambling to reach that.
Several figures have come out either in favor or against the measure. Last week, over 40 former and current Nebraska athletes and coaches announced their opposition to legalizing sports gambling, led by Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne. Current state treasurer Joey Spellerberg, state auditor Mike Foley, and former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub are opposed to initiatives 440 and 441. Several gambling companies, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM have expressed their support for 440 and 441, alongside the Nebraska Democratic Party and Will Compton, the former Husker football player now popular for the “Bussin with the Boys” podcast
The following is the full statement from the bishops:
“We urge Nebraskans, especially Catholics, to vote ‘Against’ Initiatives 440 and 441. These measures would expand predatory online sports gambling in our state. False promises of small property tax relief do not outweigh the serious social problems these initiatives would cause Nebraskans. Online sports gambling often targets people who are vulnerable to addiction, especially young men and teenagers. This can lead to family problems, debt, bankruptcy, homelessness, and mental health issues. Online sports gambling isn’t a harmless wager among friends. It turns every part of a game – play call, free throw, serve, or a pitch – into a bet where the house always wins, which harms sports and student-athletes. Let’s not turn every phone into a casino. Please vote ‘Against’ Initiatives 440 and 441.”
