State gaming regulators have officially authorized the WarHorse Casino in Omaha to commence operations on August 6, allowing for round-the-clock service. This decision was reached with unanimous support from the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, contingent upon some final compliance checks.

The announcement marks a significant development for Nebraska’s gaming scene and the Winnebago Tribe. WarHorse Chief Executive Officer Lance Morgan, who has played a pivotal role in this project, described the approval as “a pretty seminal moment for the gaming industry in Nebraska,” according to Omaha World-Herald. Morgan, also the CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., expressed his longstanding commitment to this initiative, noting: “In some ways, I’ve been working on this for about 30 years.”

Situated at 63rd and Q Streets, the WarHorse Casino is notable for being Omaha’s first state-sanctioned casino. The venue, developed by Ho-Chunk Inc. in partnership with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, follows the 2020 state voter approval of gaming linked to racetracks. Commission Chairman Denny Lee hailed the upcoming opening as “historic” and expressed enthusiasm about the new addition to Nebraska‘s largest city.

The casino will feature 925 gaming positions, various table games, and a Sweetwater Cafe upon its inauguration. A second phase, expected to open next spring, will introduce over 400 additional gaming positions, a designated smoking area, and more dining options. In the interim, WarHorse will continue offering a sportsbook and simulcast horse racing temporarily at the same location, which will eventually be integrated into the new casino.

Despite the excitement surrounding the casino’s launch, horse racing activities at the connected Horsemen’s Park will face delays due to ongoing construction, limiting the track to a single race day on September 29 this year, which is the state minimum.

Part of a Larger Expansion in Nebraska

WarHorse Casino in Omaha is part of a broader expansion of Nebraska’s casino offerings. It will be the state’s second “racino” to open in a permanent facility, following Harrah’s Columbus, which commenced operations in May. Another Warhorse casino in Lincoln is scheduled to open around November 1, while the Grand Island Casino Resort is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2025.

Lynne McNally, CEO of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, emphasized the new casino’s importance for the local horse racing industry. The industry has awaited such developments since the closure of Omaha’s Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack nearly three decades ago.

Additionally, the commission approved a license transfer necessary for the development of another casino and racetrack project in Ogallala, Nebraska. This project, a collaboration between Hastings Exposition and Racing and Elite Casino Resorts, promises to add a racetrack, hotel, event center, travel center, RV park, and casino on a 174-acre site, aiming to boost quarter horse racing and tourism in western Nebraska.