Omaha City will soon start building a new gaming venue, and WarHouse Gaming will spearhead its construction. The company will kick off construction work next month, and it forecasts it to take a year to complete it. So, the casino will start operating in the summer of 2024.
Lincoln and Omaha Get New Gaming Sites
Ho-Chunk Inc. and Nebraska Horsemen collaborated to launch WarHouse casinos in Lincoln and Omaha. Nebraska Horsemen's CEO, Lynne McNally, thanked Omaha residents for their patience.
Lincoln's WarHouse Casino launched in September 2022 in the temporary facility, and it has 433 slot machines. Yet, Omaha's WarHouse Casino will launch mid-next year, and it will be Lincoln Casino's upgraded version as it will offer more gaming positions.
WarHouse Gaming will speed up construction works to complete them before December 2024, before the facility opens to residents. McNally stated that the gaming property will offer a unique gambling experience.
It will have a wide array of restaurant choices, simulcasting, sports gambling, and many table games.
Lincoln Casino's construction will enter its second phase soon. The upcoming works will double its size and add 500 parking stalls for visitors. Thus, it will accommodate more players who will have a broader selection of games as the casino will add 870 extra slot machines and ten table games.
It will increase its dining area's capacity to host more people. The new Omaha casino will offer horse racing and play a key role in revitalizing the sport in Nebraska. Moreover, it will increase the number of modern Nebraska casinos with diverse gambling options.
The Casino Overcomes Many Challenges
Omaha residents voted for the casino's construction in November 2022. Yet, several unforeseen events caused the project's groundbreaking to delay. The city had to amend certain regulations for the $500 million casino's construction to start.
McNally stated that it was unfortunate for them to kick off the project at a time when the country's interest rates had escalated, and the economy had deteriorated. Navigating such financial constraints wasn't a walk in the park for them, but they remained focused and succeeded.
She added that they will review and update the region's roads, water, and sewer systems. They will also place firm foundations for a five-story parking lot.
Relevant authorities are optimistic that Omaha will pass various gambling bills in 14 months to allow all operations. McNally revealed that they hope Nebraska will retain all gambling proceeds and players won't be forced to visit Council Bluffs to wager.
Besides, that would raise Nebraska and Omaha's tax revenue. Grand Island and Lincoln's casinos started operating in September 2022. The state has earned $6.9 million in tax revenue from them so far.
A new Omaha casino will increase its annual revenue and help it fund various departments. But, this depends on how soon WarHouse Gaming will complete the gaming project.
