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Caesars Entertainment achieved a huge milestone when it opened its first permanent casino in Nebraska, Harrah’s Columbus Racing & Casino.
In the opening ceremony on Friday, Regional President of Caesars Entertainment Todd Connelly said this will shed a positive light on the gambling industry in Nebraska. Connelly said, according to a news release:
“We’re so proud to open the doors to Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino, for the first time today. Harrah’s is an iconic brand that our guests have come to know and love across the country. We’re so happy to be here with our partners and friends as we celebrate what is sure to be a bright future in Nebraska.”
Currently, Nebraska online casino gambling is prohibited, but retail gambling is permitted. However, the opening of the new permanent casino could boost gambling in the state, potentially leading to discussions about legalizing online gambling.
Key takeaways
- Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino, the first permanent casino in Nebraska, opened on Friday.
- Partnering with Columbus Exposition and Racing, Harrah’s Columbus, NE, will boast the state’s longest racetrack with live races.
- The casino’s opening will provide significant economic benefits to the local community, including job creation and increased tourism.
Grand opening celebrations and features of the new Nebraska casino
The Friday opening was filled with activities, including giveaways, the first slot spin, table game wagers, sports betting at the Caesars Race & Sportsbook, and a variety of other events involving Caesars, its partners, and the local community, the release said.
Also, Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) has included Harrah’s Columbus NE Racing & Casino in the broad Caesars Rewards program. At more than 50 Caesars locations throughout North America, guests may accrue and use reward credits.
The first sports wager was a $20 bet on the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Finals. Concurrently, the first jackpot on the casino’s first day of business was at 10:14 AM, awarding a lucky player $1,876 on Power Push.
For the first permanent casino in Nebraska, the facility made sure it met standards with:
- 17,000-square-foot casino floor
- 400 slot machines
- 11 table games
- Caesars Race & Sportsbook
The Caesars Race & Sportsbook, on the casino floor, is 2,100 square feet with 17 viewing screens and a 163-inch video wall.
More dining options and live races coming to Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino
For dining, the casino facility comes with the Brew Brothers restaurant, which was established by the Carano family in 1995 alongside a bar, Wishbones. Other dining options will come along, as the Marriot Fairfield Inn and Townplace Suites are still under construction adjacent to the casino and will be complete later this year.
Collaborating with Columbus Exposition and Racing, Harrah’s Columbus, NE, will feature the state’s longest track, spanning one mile.
From Aug. 16 to Sept. 15, the racetrack will have 15 live races every Friday through Sunday, in addition to a special race on Labor Day. On race day, guests may take advantage of the all-ages Grandstand seating as well as in-person and kiosk 21+ betting.
As of right now, three other racetracks in Nebraska have temporary casino structures in place, and these locations plan to open their long-term spaces in the next year.
