Hundreds attend grand opening for temporary Grand Island Casino Resort facility
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More than two years after Nebraska voters approved casino gaming at horse tracks, central Nebraska’s first casino is open.
Listen to Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak's full interview on the Doug & Daddy Show (12/27 show, 8:45 mark)
GRAND ISLAND, NE — More than two years after Nebraska voters approved casino gaming at horse tracks, central Nebraska’s first casino is open.
It’s a temporary facility at Fonner Park in Grand Island and is operated by Grand Island Casino Resort. Hundreds showed up for opening day and say they’re happy to have more entertainment close to home.
“I think it’s great. It’s about time Nebraska did something,” Barb King of Minden said.
“I’m so looking forward to (the permanent facility)," RaNae Edwards of Grand Island said. "It’s nice to be able to come here and spend our money instead of going somewhere else.”
“We’ve been to Ameristar, we’ve been to Harrah’s, we’ve been to several casinos all the way to Kentucky and back we’ve stopped," Teresa Miller of Kearney said. "We just like something to do.”
Local and state officials cut the ribbon at the venue on Tuesday. Grand Island City Clerk RaNae Edwards was the first to play a game.
“It was so exciting," Edwards said. "I was so excited. We’re going to go down in history.”
Elite Casino Resorts is leasing the Fonner Park concourse for the temporary casino and will own the permanent facility. The company operates three casinos in Iowa and is building one in Illinois. CEO Dan Kehl says temporary casino was built in just 70 days.
“We had to frame up the walls, put in the floors, wire the facility, upgrade the HVAC system and the plumbing," Kehl said. "Obviously, there’s surveillance and walls that need to be built, let alone all the equipment and the IT wiring and all of those things.”
Fonner Park is a 20% partner in the casino. The new project will allow CEO Chris Kotulak to significantly increase prize money for horse races.
“The racing product was not getting revitalized," Kotulak said. "The casino gaming revenue will help that. Already the game in Nebraska, with the thoroughbred racing and breeding, has already started to move up and get back towards where it was.”
The temporary casino includes 250 slot machines and about 15 electronic table games. There’s a snack bar with full drink service. Kehl says it’s only the beginning.
“I don’t want to say it’s a dream come true, but it’s really nice to get things up and running," Kehl said. "I just feel a lot of satisfaction because a lot of folks worked really, really hard to get us to this point.”
There’s still lots to come for Grand Island Casino Resort. They expect to receive 50 more slot machines next month. Construction on the permanent resort and casino will start after the state fair in 2023.
