The launch of Omaha, the largest city in Nebraska,’s first casino, WarHorse Omaha Casino, near Horsemen’s Park, signified a momentous occasion. Tuesday’s celebration marks the end of years of work for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and Ho-Chunk Inc., its economic development branch.
About 200 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including notable figures like Denny Lee, chairman of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, Garald Wollesen, president of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and WarHorse Gaming CEO Lance Morgan. The first wagers on the casino’s slot machines were made during the opening.
A Long Road to Legalization
The path to legalize casino gambling in Nebraska was fraught with opposition. For decades, figures like former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne and then-Gov. Pete Ricketts thwarted attempts to introduce gaming. However, a turning point came in 2020 when Nebraska voters approved ballot initiatives allowing casino gambling at six licensed horse racetracks, including Horsemen’s Park. The initiatives earmarked a portion of the proceeds for property tax relief.
The casino’s opening presents a significant economic opportunity for the Winnebago Tribe. Lance Morgan highlighted the positive impact of casino tax revenue on the tribe’s efforts to reclaim land and enhance housing, education, and social services. Ho-Chunk Inc., employing many Winnebago Tribe members and non-Native individuals, was instrumental in the casino’s development.
“Our mission as a company is to create self-sufficiency for the tribe and job opportunities, and this checks two of those boxes. We’re going to have 400 and some employees on the first day. At some point, we’ll get up to about 800 here,” Morgan stated.
The initial phase of WarHorse Omaha Casino features a 58,000-square-foot facility with 800 slot machines, 19 live table games, and 100 simulcast screens. Future expansions will add 400 more gaming positions, a smoking area, and additional dining options by next spring.
Aaron LaPointe, CEO of Ho-Chunk Capital and Ho-Chunk Farms, subsidiaries of Ho-Chunk Inc., placed the first bet at the casino, marking a historic moment for the Winnebago Tribe.
Morgan estimates that Omaha and Douglas County will share approximately $6 million annually from the state’s 20% gaming tax on gross gaming revenue from licensed racetracks. Of this tax revenue, 70% goes to Nebraska’s Property Tax Credit Cash Fund, 25% to the county and city where the racetrack is located, and the remaining 5% supports the state’s general fund and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund.
A sister WarHorse casino is slated to open in Lincoln this fall, further expanding the tribe’s gaming enterprise in Nebraska.
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