Share
Nearly 200 people met on Tuesday morning for the opening of Omaha’s WarHorse Casino at 63rd and Q streets. The Nebraska casino officials cutting the ribbon were:
- Lance Morgan, the CEO of WarHorse Gaming
- Garald Wollesen, a president of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA)
- Denny Lee, the chairman of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC)
According to the article by the Omaha World-Herald, Wollesen and tribe member Aaron LaPointe, the CEO of Ho-Chunk Capital, placed the first ceremonial bets. They each chose to spin the reels of the Mighty Cash Ultra 88 slot machine.
LaPointe said he was proud to make the first bets at WarHorse, emphasizing that the money from the Omaha casino would stay in the state and help Nebraskans.
Key takeaways
- The new Nebraska casino results from a decades-long partnership between the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and Ho-Chunk Inc.
- Casino gambling advocates celebrated the opening that came four years after Nebraska voters approved the activity.
- Supporters say WarHorse Casino could generate millions yearly through the state’s gaming tax. Meanwhile, local and national gambling opponents held a press conference to warn residents of the possible problems.
How beneficial could the Nebraska casino be for the Omaha-area?
Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, is building the casino through a partnership with the NHBPA.
After WarHorse Omaha received the NRGC’s approval last month it became the second WarHorse casino in Nebraska (after Harrah’s Columbus) and the fourth retail sportsbook. The tribe already operates Nebraska’s Iron Horse and Native Star Casinos and Iowa’s WinnaVegas Casino.
The establishment is adjacent to the Horsemen’s Park racetrack. The 58,000-square-foot venue features:
- 800 slot machines
- 19 live table games
- 100 simulcast screens
- A sportsbook
As stated by the Omaha World-Herald article, Morgan predicts the City of Omaha and Douglas County will each earn about $6 million a year in revenue from the state’s gaming tax from the WarHorse Casino.
The state imposes a 20% annual tax on gross gaming revenue from games of chance operated at licensed racetrack locations:
- 70% of the tax revenue goes to the state’s Property Tax Credit Cash Fund
- 25% goes towards the county where the racetrack is located. If the racetrack is partially within a city or a village, the areas split the money.
- 5% is divided between the state’s general fund and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund
Online sports betting revenue in Nebraska could provide property tax relief
The General Affairs Committee heard the discussion about online sports betting in Nebraska during a special legislative session held on July 31. The committee will decide whether online sports betting should be part of the property tax relief discussion.
If it wasn’t considered, Gov. Jim Pillen promised to call the special session to address the state’s property tax crisis.
However, Sen. Eliot Bostar filed two bills (LB13 and LR3CA) to create the framework for online sports betting on professional, college, and amateur sports. Voters in Nebraska must first approve any gambling expansion.
Since Nebraska casinos are spread across the state, many residents still would rather cross state borders to place their sports bets than use the Nebraska sportsbooks.
If online sports betting is approved, the next logical expansion would be Nebraska online casinos.
Omaha casino opponents warn about the possible social ills
While Ho-Chunk Inc. is among the leaders lobbying for legalizing online sports betting in Nebraska, the activity and the new casino project face strong opposition.
The anti-gambling group Gambling with the Good Life has been fighting against gambling expansion in the state since 1995. The group leaders say casino gambling won’t bring the people of Nebraska true property tax relief.
On a separate occasion in the city, casino gambling opponents held their press conference at Omaha’s Open Door Mission. The campus offers shelter beds and nutritious meals for persons experiencing homelessness and hunger.
Candace Gregory, the Open Door Mission’s CEO, said the new gambling facility is already impacted by gambling in Iowa and the new Prairie Flower Casino, which is a 10-minute walk from the shelter. She said the opening of the WarHorse Omaha will harm the community.
A second construction phase at WarHorse Omaha should start in the spring of 2025. It will include over 400 gaming positions, a smoking area, and more dining options.
