WarHorse Gaming plans to open Omaha casino in summer 2024

KETV

03 May 2023

AND JULIE. OKAY, THANK YOU, BILL. AN UPDATE TONIGHT AS OMAHA’S WARHORSE CASINO ANNOUNCES NEW CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND A TIMELINE. YEAH, DON’T EXPECT GAMBLING IN 2023. FIRST PHASE STILL ABOUT A YEAR AWAY. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S BILL SHAMROCK IS ON THE LIVE DESK BILL ROB JULIE WHEN PLANS WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED, WAR HORSE WANTED TO BREAK GROUND IN SPRING 2021, THEY DID BREAK GROUND, BUT NOT UNTIL LAST JULY. NOW WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL PROJECT OPENING DATE. THAT’S JUNE 2024. THIS IS WHAT THE SPACE AT 63RD LOOKS LIKE TODAY SINCE THEY BROKE GROUND. IT’S BEEN A LOT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION, SEWAGE AND WATER IMPROVEMENTS AND GETTING THINGS READY FOR THE BUILDING. WE LEARNED TODAY THAT CASINO CONSTRUCTION WILL START NEXT MONTH. THE GAMING FACILITIES WILL EVENTUALLY LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS. HAUSMAN SAYS IT UNDERSTANDS FRUSTRATIONS WITH DELAYS. THEY NOTED IT TOOK MORE TIME THAN EXPECTED TO GET RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE. THEN HAD A TOUGH TIME WITH FINANCING THE OMAHA AND LINCOLN PROJECTS RIGHT AS INTEREST RATES KEPT RISING. BUT NOW THEY ARE READY TO ROLL. WE ARE EXPECTING TO FULFILL OUR PROMISE OF KEEPING THE MONEY IN NEBRASKA. SO WE ARE REALLY HOPING THAT THOSE NEBRASKANS THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING ACROSS THE RIVER TO COUNCIL BLUFFS ALL THIS TIME WILL STAY IN OMAHA, SPEND THEIR MONEY IN OMAHA AND KEEP THEIR TAX REVENUE IN OMAHA AND IN THE STATE. THIS IS A LOOK AT WARHORSE TEMPORARY LINCOLN CASINO. IT IS ALREADY OPEN. THE NEXT PHASE OF THAT BUILDOUT WILL DOUBLE THE CURRENT SIZE AND LIKELY START IN JULY OR AUGUST. NEBRASKA VOTERS APPROVED THE GAMING INITIATIVE IN NOVEMBER 2020, AND THE GAMBLING FIRST STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2022. RIGHT NOW, LINCOLN AND GRAND ISLAND ARE THE ONLY TWO OPEN FACILITIES SO FAR. THEY’VE GENERAT

On Tuesday, WarHorse Gaming announced it plans to start construction on its Omaha casino in June and partially open its new casino in June or July of 2024. "We're grateful for the patience — particularly to the citizens of Omaha," said Lynne McNally, CEO of Nebraska Horsemen.Nebraska Horsemen is partnering with Ho-Chunk Inc. to launch the WarHorse casinos in Lincoln and Omaha. Lincoln's WarHorse casino opened a temporary facility with 433 slot machines in September 2022. McNally said Omaha's first opening next summer will be a supercharged version of Lincoln's, with more than double the number of gaming positions. The final facility is expected to open about four months later, by the end of 2024."It's going to be fantastic," she said. "We'll have table games, restaurant options, sports betting, and simulcasting."The next phase of construction on Lincoln's full facility will likely start in July of 2023. It'll double the size of the current spot and add 500 parking stalls, featuring 870 slot machines, six to ten table games and an expanded dining area.McNally said she's excited to bring the horse racing element back to Omaha."We're revitalizing an entire industry for the state of Nebraska and helping launch a new one at the same time," she said. As for the wait — the gaming initiative was approved by voters in November 2022 — McNally said it's been a series of frustrating events that are nobody's fault. She cited the time it took to get rules and regulations in place and the state of the economy just as they were about to tackle a $500 million project. "Unfortunately, we started the process at about the same time the economy tanked and interest rates went through the roof," she said. "That has been difficult to navigate, but we've done that effectively and that's done."After breaking ground in July 2023 on its Omaha casino at Horsemen's Park near 63rd and Q streets, construction has focused on updating the sewer and water systems, road work, and laying the foundations for the five-story parking garage.In 13 to 14 months, there should be legal gambling inside Omaha city limits. "We're expecting to fulfill our promise of keeping the money in Nebraska," McNally said. "We're hoping those Nebraskans who've been driving across the river to Council Bluffs will stay in Omaha and spend their money in Omaha, keeping their tax revenue in Omaha and in the state."Nebraska's collected about $6.9 million in tax revenue since September from the two open facilities in Lincoln and Grand Island.Top headlinesTecumseh State Prison releases report on use of force investigation Aerosmith announces farewell tour, stop in OmahaOmaha City Council permanently removes Vinny Palermo from leadership positions

OMAHA, Neb. —

On Tuesday, WarHorse Gaming announced it plans to start construction on its Omaha casino in June and partially open its new casino in June or July of 2024.

"We're grateful for the patience — particularly to the citizens of Omaha," said Lynne McNally, CEO of Nebraska Horsemen.

Nebraska Horsemen is partnering with Ho-Chunk Inc. to launch the WarHorse casinos in Lincoln and Omaha.

Lincoln's WarHorse casino opened a temporary facility with 433 slot machines in September 2022. McNally said Omaha's first opening next summer will be a supercharged version of Lincoln's, with more than double the number of gaming positions.

The final facility is expected to open about four months later, by the end of 2024.

"It's going to be fantastic," she said. "We'll have table games, restaurant options, sports betting, and simulcasting."

The next phase of construction on Lincoln's full facility will likely start in July of 2023. It'll double the size of the current spot and add 500 parking stalls, featuring 870 slot machines, six to ten table games and an expanded dining area.

McNally said she's excited to bring the horse racing element back to Omaha.

"We're revitalizing an entire industry for the state of Nebraska and helping launch a new one at the same time," she said.

As for the wait — the gaming initiative was approved by voters in November 2022 — McNally said it's been a series of frustrating events that are nobody's fault.

She cited the time it took to get rules and regulations in place and the state of the economy just as they were about to tackle a $500 million project.

"Unfortunately, we started the process at about the same time the economy tanked and interest rates went through the roof," she said. "That has been difficult to navigate, but we've done that effectively and that's done."

After breaking ground in July 2023 on its Omaha casino at Horsemen's Park near 63rd and Q streets, construction has focused on updating the sewer and water systems, road work, and laying the foundations for the five-story parking garage.

In 13 to 14 months, there should be legal gambling inside Omaha city limits.

"We're expecting to fulfill our promise of keeping the money in Nebraska," McNally said. "We're hoping those Nebraskans who've been driving across the river to Council Bluffs will stay in Omaha and spend their money in Omaha, keeping their tax revenue in Omaha and in the state."

Nebraska's collected about $6.9 million in tax revenue since September from the two open facilities in Lincoln and Grand Island.