WarHorse On line casino Lincoln expects to make historical past this weekend by turning into the primary authorized on line casino to open its doorways in Nebraska.
The momentary on line casino area at WarHorse Lincoln On line casino in Nebraska might open this Saturday, September 24. The totally completed, everlasting on line casino received’t be prepared till late 2024. (Picture: York Information-Instances)
WarHorse Gaming is a partnership between the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protecting Affiliation (NHBPA). The gaming entity was fashioned after Nebraska voters signed off on permitting the state’s six horse racetracks to transition into full-scale casinos. That was completed by a poll referendum introduced through the November 2020 election.
WarHorse is overseeing the racino-to-casino overhaul at every of the NHBPA’s three racetracks. The Lincoln and Omaha services are being developed first, with the affiliation’s South Sioux Metropolis monitor set for redevelopment at a later date.
WarHorse Gaming is spending greater than $200 million to rework the Lincoln Race Course into WarHorse On line casino Lincoln. As soon as accomplished, anticipated someday in late 2024, the on line casino will characteristic about 1,300 slot machine and desk sport positions, plus a sportsbook.
The gaming ground will complement a 200-room resort, conference and assembly area, a number of eating places, and reside and simulcast horse racing.
Non permanent On line casino Prepared
Although WarHorse Lincoln received’t be prepared for no less than one other 18 months, the on line casino hopes to open a brief gaming area this weekend. Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the financial arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and operator of WarHorse, advised the Nebraska Examiner this week that the interim facility is able to go.
The one remaining hurdle, Morgan defined, is gaining closing approval from the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Fee. The fee is ready to fulfill tomorrow afternoon, the place it’s anticipated to grant WarHorse a gaming license for Lincoln.
WarHorse has renovated a former sports activities bar that accommodated pari-mutuel wagering actions on the Lincoln monitor into a brief on line casino with about 500 slot and desk sport positions.
We’ve each expectation that we’ll get a license,” Morgan mentioned of tomorrow’s gaming fee assembly.
WarHorse Lincoln’s momentary on line casino might open as early as 10:30 am native time on Saturday if it does. The Lincoln property would then eternally be often known as the primary authorized on line casino to open in Nebraska historical past.
However that’s not all that WarHorse has deliberate for this weekend. The corporate says it’ll formally rename the historic racetrack, which opened in 1947, “Legacy Downs” when its on line casino takes its first wager.
Omaha Building Nearing
WarHorse Gaming plans to quickly break floor on its Omaha undertaking, which is the bigger of its two preliminary on line casino undertakings. WarHorse has budgeted greater than $300 million to renovate Horsemen’s Park into WarHorse On line casino Omaha.
The Omaha blueprint consists of 1,600 gaming positions, three eating places and a meals courtroom, and reside and simulcast wagering. No resort is at present included.
WarHorse additionally plans to open a brief on line casino in Omaha. That facility is ready to begin operations subsequent spring.
No particulars on what WarHorse might need in retailer for South Sioux Metropolis have but been revealed. Morgan concluded that the corporate is at present “spending each penny” on the Lincoln and Omaha builds.
