In anticipation of Nebraska lawmakers allowing new horse racing tracks, the Ogallala City Council and Keith County Board of Commissioners recently approved Elite Casino Resorts’ plans for the $100 million Lake Mac Casino Resort & Racetrack. Elite is currently building a casino at Fonner Park in Grand Island.
Besides a 5/8-mile racetrack, the Lake Mac racino would feature 650 slot machines, 20 table games, six poker tables and a sportsbook, plus a 120-room hotel, 10,000-square-foot event space, an RV park and a high-end truck stop. The proposed venue would be similar to Elite’s Grand Island facility which will also include 650 slots, 20 table games and a sportsbook.
Jeremy Smith, president of local nonprofit LMRC Inc., said, “We are excited about this partnership. This project will be a catalyst to help additional economic development in our community. We feel we have the full package with our location, the quality of the project to be developed and the experience in gaming and racetracks with our partners,” including Elite, Fonner Park and casino developer Kehl Management.
There’s no guarantee, however, that a racino ever will be built in Ogallala. In 2020, voters approved an initiative to allow casino gambling only at the state’s six existing horse racing tracks, and earlier this year the legislature passed a bill that puts developing any other casinos on hold until a market study can be done prior to January 1, 2025.
All six existing tracks have announced casino plans, but gaming license applications to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission have only been submitted by Lincoln Race Course, Horsemen’s Park in Omaha and Fonner Park.
Dan Kehl, chief executive officer at Elite Casino Resorts, said, “Should approval be received, Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park will open as a temporary casino inside the existing Fonner Park facility by late 2022 with 300 slot machines, five table games and a grab-and-go dining option.” Construction on the permanent casino will start in 2023 and be completed in 2025, Kehl said.
Besides Ogallala, Bellevue, York, Norfolk, North Platte and Gering have announced they hope to build new racinos.
