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Caesars Entertainment revealed official renderings of Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino, a property that would be a third non-tribal Nebraska casino.
The casino company presented the renderings at a community meeting that included the Columbus mayor. Also present were representatives from Columbus Exposition and Racing, Caeasar’s project partner.
Joe Morris, SVP of Racing at Caesars Entertainment said:
“Horse Racing has been ingrained in the history of Columbus for decades. We’re thrilled to contribute to that history and bring an all-new, one-mile racetrack for the community to enjoy. Caesars Entertainment is committed to bringing the best offerings for guests of the casino and fans of racing in the area and we look forward to welcoming Columbus to the track once it’s complete.”
Renderings reveal elegant new property
The renderings gave insight into how the under-construction property will look upon completion in 2024. The Nebraska casino has a modest and modern look, with beige and off-white coloring and square columns.
Caesers noted the property will include:
- A top-tier horse track
- A 28,000-square-foot casino
- 500 slot machines
- 14 table games
- The Brew Brothers, an award-winning restaurant
- A Caesars sportsbook
Caesars plans on opening a temporary casino by this summer. The temporary property will have more than 200 slot machines and simulcast. Caesars Entertainment Regional President Todd Connelly commented:
“We’re pleased to bring a brand-new destination to the great state of Nebraska. This is a huge milestone for the company, and we’ve been working hard to bring it to life. We were honored to be joined by our partners and have the support of the local community during today’s event. We’re looking forward to welcoming the people of Columbus.”
Columbus Mayor Jim Bulkley told Omaha.com he was “blown away by what we’re going to have here in our community.
Nebraska’s commercial casino market is growing
Nebraska is home to two types of casinos: tribal and commercial (casinos opened on non-tribal land).
There are five tribal casinos in the state. For the longest time, those five casinos were the only casinos in the state. However, in late September 2022, WarHorse Casino Lincoln became the state’s first commercial casino.
The state’s second casino, Grand Island Casino Resort, in Grand Island opened a temporary casino in late December. The casino is in a good location to grab traffic. Especially from people who pass through the town to make the more than one-hour trip south to Lincoln or east to Grand Island.
