On its first day of operation, September 23, players at WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, Nebraska wagered an estimated $1.4 million on the temporary venue’s 433 slot machines, according to Tom Sage, director of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission.
And in its first seven days, WarHorse generated nearly $286,000 in new tax revenue for state and local governments. About 70 percent, or $200,000, will go to a fund designated for property tax relief. The Racing and Gaming Commission will provide specific figures in its regular reports.
Drew Niehaus, marketing director at WarHorse Gaming, noted before casino gambling legislation was approved, “the big push was we wanted to keep this money in Nebraska. Nebraskans were already gambling across the river in Iowa, now we’re keeping that here. Whether you live in Lincoln and Lancaster County or you live in Omaha, it doesn’t matter. If you live clear out in Scottsbluff, this casino in Lincoln is providing a real service to those folks in the form of property tax relief.”
Lynne McNally, chief executive officer at the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Ho-Chunk’s WarHorse partner, said it’s not likely the casino will continue to take in betting sums similar to the first week, but all involved are “very happy” with the first week’s wagers.
The permanent WarHorse Lincoln casino is expected to open in November 2024. The gaming floor will offer more than 1,100 slot machines, 100 table games, a sportsbook and live and simulcast horseracing.
Construction also is under way at the WarHorse Casino in Omaha, Neihaus said. “Anybody that lives in that area knows that Q street renovations are well underway and it’s progressing pretty nicely,” he noted. He added a temporary, 800-slot casino will open in Omaha in spring 2023.
Both the Lincoln and Omaha venues broke ground this summer but Lincoln is moving faster because it’s new construction; the buildings at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha are being totally gutted. “In Lincoln, it was a little bit easier to get those machines into. Omaha requires a little more renovation to the existing facility, so we’ve got a little bit more work to do before we’ll be gambling in Omaha,” Niehaus said.
At Fonner Park in Grand Island, officials said a 300-slot temporary casino will open by Thanksgiving.
