Lincoln WarHorse Casino: 'We'll be ready to open September 19'
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DOWN A BIT THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. BILL: BILL, THANK YOU. THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR NEBRASKA’S FIRST CASINO SLOTS TO BEGIN OPERATIONS. JULIE: WARHORSE CASINO IS SLATED TO OPEN IT’S TEMPORARY FACILITY IN LINCOLN IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS. IT WILL HAVE MORE THAN 400 SLOT MACHINES. BILL: KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S ANDREW OZAKI HAS THE FIRST LOOK INSIDE AND WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE FIRST BETS CAN BE MADE. >> WE’RE SETTING UP THE MACHINES. REPORTER: YOU ARE GETTING THE FIRST LOOK AT THE VIDEO SLOTS GOING UP AT THE WARHORSE CASINO IN LINCOLN. >> WE HAVE SOME OF THE NEWEST SLOT MACHINES THAT ARE NOT IN IN PLAY IN ANY OTHER PART OF THE UNITED STATES. REPORTER: LYNNE MCNALLY IS WITH THE HORSEMEN’S BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION. THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH HO CHUNK INC AT BOTH THE LINCOLN AND OMAHA CASINOS. LINCOLN’S TEMPORARY FACILITY FEATURING 433 SLOTS IS SET TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS. >> 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND THIS OPERATION WILL CONTINUE WHILE WE’RE BUILDING THE PERMANENT FACILITY, WHICH WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 20 MONTHS. REPORTER: THERE ARE STILL A FEW HURDLES, THEY MUST GET A PERMANENT GAMING OPERATORS LICENSE. THE STATE GAMING COMMISSION IS POISED TO DO THAT ONCE ALL OF THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, OPERATION AND BUILDING CONCERNS ARE MET AND GAMES CAN BE CERTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT LAB. >> THE OPERATING LICENSE IS THE KEY. THAT’S THE ONE YOU WANT. REPORTER: AND THEY NEED TO HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES. >> WE’RE STAFFED RIGHT NOW AT HALF CAPACITY. REPORTER: THEY ARE HOLDING A JOB FAIR AT THE CORNHUSKER HOTEL SEPTEMBER 6. THEY NEED 100 MORE EMPLOYEES. >> THERE ARE $120,000 JOBS OR $14 TO $15 AN HOUR JOBS. REPORTER: BUT NOT EVERYONE SEES THIS AS A BENEFIT. >> UNFORTUNATELY, WE’RE ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO THE SOCIAL COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF CASINO GAMBLING. REPORTER: NATE GRASZ OF NEBRASKA FAMILY ALLIANCE SAYS NEBRASKA FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY FACING ECONOMIC STRESS. >> WE KNOW THAT THE COST OF CASINO GAMBLING FAR OUTWEIGH ANY SHORT TERM BENEFITS. REPORTER: BUT MCNALLY SAYS NEBRASKANS HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR THE SOCIAL COSTS FROM IOWA CASINOS. SOON, NEBRASKA WILL HAVE A WAY OF CAPTURING SOME OF THAT MONEY. >> NO MATTER WHAT, WE’LL BE READY TO OPEN SEPTEMBER 19. REPORTER: IN LINCOLN, ANDRE
The count down is on for Nebraska's first casino slots to begin operation.The WarHorse Casino is slated to open it's temporary facility in Lincoln on Sept. 19th with over 400 slots machines."It's unbelievable. I'm just I'm so grateful and excited. Absolutely can't wait for this to get started," said Lynne McNally of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. They are partnering with Ho-Chunk Inc. at both the Lincoln and Omaha casinos.On Wednesday, McNally gave KETV Newswatch 7 a sneak peek of the video slots at the Lincoln facility."We have some of the newest slot machines that are not in play in any other part of the United States," McNally said.McNally said the facility will be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week."And this operation will continue while we're building the permanent facility, which will take approximately 20 months," McNally said.But there are still a few hurdles.They must get a permanent gaming operator's license.On Wednesday, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission indicated it was poised to do that.Commissioners said they wanted to make sure all of the background checks, operation and building concerns are met and games certified by an independent lab."And that the commission consider scheduling a meeting by Zoom in a practical period of time before your opening to approve your conditional license to a full gaming operators license, " said Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission chairman Dennis Lee.The casino also needs to hire more employees."We're staffed right now at half capacity," McNally said.WarHorse is holding a job fair at the Cornhusker Hotel on Sept. 6th.They need 100 more employees."There are $120,000 jobs or $14-$15 an hour jobs," McNally said.But Nate Grasz, of the Nebraska Family Alliance, doesn't see the expansion of gambling as a benefit."Unfortunately, we're another step closer to the social costs and consequences of casino gambling," Grasz said.He said it comes at a time when Nebraska families and businesses are already facing economic stress."We know that the cost of casino gambling far outweigh any short-term benefits. And families and businesses already have it hard enough without the additional challenges casinos will bring," Grasz said.But proponents of expanded gambling argue that the state has been paying for the social costs of Iowa casinos.Soon Nebraska will have a way of capturing some of that money."Twenty percent off the top goes to the property tax relief fund," McNally said.She estimates Lincoln alone gets $4 million a year from taxes off the video slots."No matter what we'll be ready to open September 19," McNally said. WarHorse Casino in Omaha is slated to open its temporary facility at 63rd and Q Streets next summer.It will feature over a thousand slot machines.
LINCOLN, Neb. —The count down is on for Nebraska's first casino slots to begin operation.
The WarHorse Casino is slated to open it's temporary facility in Lincoln on Sept. 19th with over 400 slots machines.
"It's unbelievable. I'm just I'm so grateful and excited. Absolutely can't wait for this to get started," said Lynne McNally of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
They are partnering with Ho-Chunk Inc. at both the Lincoln and Omaha casinos.
On Wednesday, McNally gave KETV Newswatch 7 a sneak peek of the video slots at the Lincoln facility.
"We have some of the newest slot machines that are not in play in any other part of the United States," McNally said.
McNally said the facility will be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
"And this operation will continue while we're building the permanent facility, which will take approximately 20 months," McNally said.
But there are still a few hurdles.
They must get a permanent gaming operator's license.
On Wednesday, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission indicated it was poised to do that.
Commissioners said they wanted to make sure all of the background checks, operation and building concerns are met and games certified by an independent lab.
"And that the commission consider scheduling a meeting by Zoom in a practical period of time before your opening to approve your conditional license to a full gaming operators license, " said Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission chairman Dennis Lee.
The casino also needs to hire more employees.
"We're staffed right now at half capacity," McNally said.
WarHorse is holding a job fair at the Cornhusker Hotel on Sept. 6th.
They need 100 more employees.
"There are $120,000 jobs or $14-$15 an hour jobs," McNally said.
But Nate Grasz, of the Nebraska Family Alliance, doesn't see the expansion of gambling as a benefit.
"Unfortunately, we're another step closer to the social costs and consequences of casino gambling," Grasz said.
He said it comes at a time when Nebraska families and businesses are already facing economic stress.
"We know that the cost of casino gambling far outweigh any short-term benefits. And families and businesses already have it hard enough without the additional challenges casinos will bring," Grasz said.
But proponents of expanded gambling argue that the state has been paying for the social costs of Iowa casinos.
Soon Nebraska will have a way of capturing some of that money.
"Twenty percent off the top goes to the property tax relief fund," McNally said.
She estimates Lincoln alone gets $4 million a year from taxes off the video slots.
"No matter what we'll be ready to open September 19," McNally said.
WarHorse Casino in Omaha is slated to open its temporary facility at 63rd and Q Streets next summer.
It will feature over a thousand slot machines.
