Summary:
- The launch date and hours of operation were unanimously approved.
- WarHorse Casino will remain open 24 hours a day.
- Ho-Chunk Inc. is the builder and operator behind the casino.
The WarHorse Casino will open in Omaha on August 6, as the Winnebago Tribe received the greenlight from the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission this week. Final compliance checks are required, but the casino will soon be operational and offering 24/7 services.
Details of the New Casino
The Winnebago Tribe used its business arm, Ho-Chunk Inc., to create the new facility, working with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. The casino will include 925 gaming positions, table games, and a coffee shop.
The casino operates in conjunction with the Horsemen’s Thoroughbred racing track. The WarHorse is the first and only state-approved casino located in Omaha and the second facility to feature racing.
The new location will help Omaha residents access gaming services and prevent potential revenue losses to casinos located in nearby Iowa, such as Ameristar and Harrah’s. The casino is expected to become a hot spot for players in the local area and throughout Nebraska.
The WarHorse will pay 20% of gross gaming revenues, and 70% of the proceeds will go to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. A total of 25% will go to the county where the racetrack is located.
Moving Forward
In the next development phase, an additional 400 gaming positions will be added, along with dining options and a smoking space for guests. The existing sportsbooks and simulcast areas will move into the new casino building.
The casino will open soon, but guests will have to wait a bit longer to experience the racetrack. The Horsemen’s Park location will host one race in 2024, which fulfills the state’s requirements. This event will take place on September 29, so guests will have to wait almost two months after the casino opens to see a live race at the track.
WarHorse CEO Lance Morgan stated that the Gaming Commission’s green light was a seminal moment for the Nebraska gaming industry and the Winnebago Tribe. Morgan has been working on this project for many years, and it is hard to believe that the time has come to see it come to fruition.
The WarHorse is the latest in a string of casinos operated by the Winnebago Tribe. Warhorse Lincoln, Iron Horse Casino, Native Star Casino, and the WinnaVegas Casino & Resort are additional locations owned and operated by the tribe. It will be interesting to see how well received the new property is by guests and if it will help to stop locals from traveling to nearby Iowa for gaming services.
About the Author
