(Winnebago, NE) -- Planned casinos in Omaha and Lincoln are one step closer to becoming a reality.
WarHorse Gaming announced on Thursday that the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission has issued the state’s first provisional casino operator licenses for the Omaha and Lincoln facilities. WarHorse management says the licenses allow them to obtain the appropriate financing, enter into vendor contracts, and begin employee recruitment. “We are very appreciative for how fast the Commission turned around and issued us a provisional licenses. As you can imagine, we are very anxious to begin construction, create jobs, and start keeping the money in Nebraska,” said Lance Morgan, CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc., parent company of WarHorse Gaming, LLC.
Prior to the grand opening, WarHorse Gaming says they plan for a phased opening at both Omaha and Lincoln prior to completing the facilities. Lincoln’s phased opening will include more than 400 slot machines with the intent to open later this year. Omaha’s phased opening will include more than 800 slot machines with the intent to open in first half of 2023.
WarHorse Omaha will have roughly 1,600 gaming positions, a three-restaurant food court, as well as live and simulcast racing. WarHorse Lincoln is anticipated to be the first of the facilities to open and will include more than 1,300 gaming stations, a 196-room hotel, event space, several restaurants, live and simulcast horse racing, and other amenities once complete. The full scope of the projects are likely to take 18-24 months to complete.