The city council in Omaha, Nebraska recently approved a plan to provide $17.5 million in tax incentives for WarHorse Gaming Omaha’s $220 million casino, to be located on the Horsemen’s Park property. A subsidiary of Ho-Chunk Inc., economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, the WarHorse casino will be one of the first to be developed since voters statewide approved expanded gambling at racetracks last year.
Once completed in fall 2022, the WarHorse casino complex will feature live and simulcast horseracing, 1,200 slots, table games, live entertainment and a sports bar. The casino is expected to employ around 500 full and part-time workers.
Ho-Chunk officials said the project would “not be feasible” without tax increment financing. They stated the $220 million was “at-risk” money. But those opposed to the TIF Inquired why a casino expecting to make millions of dollars needed a tax break. Former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub said, “We oppose the notion that taxpayers of this community should be forced to subsidize the project when sponsors paid millions heralding this opportunity by virtue of amending our state’s constitution.”
Daub also questioned why parts of the TIF application were redacted from public view. City officials replied the developers requested redactions for proprietary reasons; however, the TIF committee was able to review the entire application.
Ho-Chunk agreed to spend about $6 million to widen Q Street and to make storm sewer improvements.
