The new temporary casino at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, missed its projected Thanksgiving opening due to “supply chain issues,” according to Chief Executive Officer Chris Kotulak. But now, Kotulak said, it’s expected to open by Christmas, following final approval from the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission on December 14.
Kotulak said the opening of the temporary Grand Island Casino Resort, located inside the Fonner Park concourse, was set back by “supply chain issues of getting a variety of things that we need for the construction of the casino and labor issues. Fortunately, we have many local contractors that we do business with here at Fonner Park. They provided everything they could at the time. Of course, they have other customers as well, but we’re satisfied with the pace that we’re on right now.”
The temporary casino will offer 300 slot machines, kiosks for wagering on live and simulcast horseracing and a snack bar. Kotulak said, “The Racing and Gaming Commission wanted to make sure that racing had a presence, and I appreciate that, so they’ve asked that we add additional television monitors and some wagering terminals where people can wager on horse racing in addition to whatever casino games they’re playing.” Elite Casinos, the venue’s owner, will add table games next year.
The temporary Grand Island casino is expected to operate until 2025 when the permanent casino opens, Kotulak said. Construction of the permanent facility will begin next year. The 37,500-square-foot gaming floor will feature 650 slot machines, 20 table games and a retail sportsbook. A 116-room boutique hotel also is planned, plus a show lounge, sports bar, salon and spa, gift shop, indoor and outdoor pools and four restaurants including rooftop dining.
A portion of casino revenue will help increase horsemen’s purses, Kotulak said. “With the casino gaming revenue, there’s a portion of that, that goes into our purses. We pay daily purses to the horsemen here at Fonner Park. To make it simple, let’s say it’s roughly $50,000 dollars a day. Ideally when we’re up and going full force, we’ll double that amount of purse money,” he stated.
Kotulak added he’s hopeful the casino will bring in enough revenue to upgrade the racetracks and expand the facility to host 1,000 horses, up from the current 750. He said, “We’ll be celebrating our 70th year of thoroughbred racing here at Fonner Park in 2023 when the meet opens on February 10. Gradually we will continue to provide improvements for the facility and the stable area, as we have the money to do so. We haven’t for decades, now it’s going to start to trickle in.”
Elite Casino Resorts, Fonner Park’s partner in the casino, operates three venues in Iowa: Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Iowa City; Rhythm City Casino Resort in Quad Cities; and Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood. Elite also is developing Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville, Illinois and owns Elite Sportsbook which operates in Iowa and Colorado.
