The Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association recently applied for a permit to transform the simulcast building at Lincoln Race Course into a $2.4 million temporary casino with more than 300 slots while Ho-Chunk’s WarHorse Casino is being built. The temporary facility would open within a few weeks but construction on the main facility may not start for several months, said NHBPA Executive Vice President Lynne McNally; when it does, the casino could be completed in 18-24 months. “We’re hoping to make it work and be able to run both operations out of the same space,” McNally said.
Ho-Chunk Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Morgan noted the new $220 million casino be the largest in Nebraska, with more than 1,200 gaming positions, plus a 196-room hotel, event space, several restaurants and a spa.
Last month, lawmakers approved LB561, which set up the framework for Nebraska’s first racinos. Next, according to Nebraska Gaming and Racing Commission Director Tom Sage, the commission soon will begin reviewing proposals it solicited from gaming consultants regarding proposed casino gambling rules and regulations. Sage said commissioners would like to hire a consultant by July 1; that individual soul have four weeks to study the rules and provide a report.
Additionally, the processes for applying for a gaming license and government approval need to be established. After that, the commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed rules and the state Attorney General’s office must review them. Following that, they must be approved by the governor and sent to the Secretary of State’s office for the official okay. As a result, McNally said, the earliest casino operators could apply for a license would be September and the vetting process could take up to 30 days before a license is granted. “As you can imagine, they don’t want to give just anyone a license. They’re doing what they should do,” she stated.
