Large sportsbook coming to Omaha and Lincoln
NEBRASKA CITY - Two casinos presenting gambling, horse racing and sports betting are making their way to Nebraska next year.
WarHorse Gaming, which is operated by the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Tribe, is opening casinos in Omaha and Lincoln. The Omaha location at Horseman's Park is expected to compete with casinos across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs.
WarHorse Omaha will feature rooftop terraces, an outdoor gaming area and will accommodate smoking. It will have roughly 1,600 gaming positions along with a three-restaurant food court, and live simulcast racing.
WarHorse Gaming said in a press release that it plans for a phased opening at both locations. WarHorse Omaha will include 800 slot machines at the start with a plan to open fully early in 2023.
WarHorse Lincoln at Lincoln Race Course is hopeful its interim facility can open later this year. It will include approximately 400 slot machines.
As a whole, WarHorse Lincoln will include 1,300 gaming stations and a 196-room hotel which overlooks the race track. There are plans for an event space as well as several available restaurants along with other amenities including live and simulcast horse racing.
The time frame for the projects is between 18-24 months with a price tag of roughly $600 million.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission issued a provisional operator license to both casinos on June 9, meaning WarHorse can obtain financing and enter into vendor contracts.
But it cannot turn on or operate any games at this time.
The casinos will pay rent to the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protection Association (HBPA) because the Horseman own the land at Horesman's Park and Lincoln Race Course.
Between the two locations, WarHorse Gaming is expected to hire nearly 1,500 employees to operate the facilities.
Pete Graziano, the Director of Marketing at WarHorse Gaming, was in Nebraska City on Wednesday and said the sportsbook at WarHorse Omaha and Lincoln will be one of the largest outside of Las Vegas.
