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Lincoln casino developers ‘hurry up and wait’ to begin construction

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new warhorse rendering

Developers of the proposed WarHorse Casino in Lincoln say it would bring in more than $140 million in annual gaming revenue.

Courtesy image

Matt Olberding

The developers planning Lincoln’s (and likely the state’s) first horse track casino are in a “hurry up and wait” mode.

Lynne McNally, executive vice president of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and Lance Morgan, president and chief executive officer of Ho-Chunk Inc., said Wednesday that some things need to fall into place before they can start physical work on the planned WarHorse Casino in Lincoln.

First, they need a process in place to get a gaming license, something that’s working its way through the Legislature via LB561.

Casino clears zoning hurdle; makes promise to add parking for semis

Once that process is complete, the plan is to open a temporary facility in Lincoln at the current Lincoln Race Course near U.S. 77 and West Denton Road.

“We’ll kind of be building around it,” McNally said.

Morgan said he hopes construction activities can start in a few months, and the construction process is likely to take 18 to 24 months. That would put the likely opening of the full casino no earlier than late 2022 and possibly into 2023.

“We’re going to build it as fast as we can,” Morgan said.

$100 million casino resort planned for Grand Island

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The estimated cost of the project, which will include more than 1,200 gaming stations, a 196-room hotel, event space, five or six restaurants and other amenities such as a spa, has already grown to $220 million and may continue to grow because of increased construction costs.

Along with the casino and hotel, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association plans to expand its racing season to 100 days, running from early May into early fall.

McNally said she expects the expanded race schedule to begin soon after the full casino opens.

A feature of the hotel, which Morgan said is likely to be independent and not part of a chain, will be balconies for some of the rooms that will overlook the race course and allow guests to watch races, a feature McNally said is not available at any other horse track in the U.S.

McNally and Morgan touted the amount of money that will flow to the local and state economies from just the Lincoln casino. They estimated it will provide nearly $20 million in direct property tax relief to the state and more than $3.5 million in annual tax revenue to both the city of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

The annual gaming revenue for just the Lincoln casino is projected at more than $140 million, and that is not counting revenue from the hotel, restaurants and other components. The casino is expected to employ more than 680 people permanently, which does not include the estimated 230 construction jobs it will create.

The two said the Lincoln casino will be the first WarHorse Casino to open, ahead of ones planned in Omaha and South Sioux City, and they believe it will open before any other casino in the state. So far, Fonner Park in Grand Island is the only other horse track in the state, besides WarHorse, to unveil casino plans.

Casino gambling bill includes sports betting, adds to keno options
Lincoln casino developers say they ‘will be good neighbors’

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln Southeast’s Ally Keitges (left) and Caroline Miller celebrate a point against Lincoln Southwest’s Grace Bartolome and Ella Dean in the No. 1 Doubles match on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Woods Tennis Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Columbus baseball players celebrate the win during the A-3 district final, Monday, May 10, 2021, at Den Hartog Field. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Quad 4 Roller Sports instructor Bryce Pearson (left) helps student Sean Siedhoff of Lincoln with a skating move on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during a weekly lesson at the Lincoln Sports Foundation. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Lincoln Northeast first baseman Tristan Brandt (left) leaps for an errant throw as Bellevue East batter Brett Barton (8) reaches base safely on Friday, May 7, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Lincoln East’s Lillie Shaw (22) is held by Elkhorn South’s Lillian Hulsey as she goes for the ball in the first half on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during the A-3 girls district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Lincoln North Star’s Bodie Duffy hits the ball, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Holmes Golf Course. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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A bicyclist heads down a shaded Rock Island Trail on Thursday, May 6, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

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Papillion-La Vista South goalkeeper Andrew Streeter (bottom) goes for the ball at the feet of Lincoln Southwest’s Carter Novosad (9) and Titans teammate Peyton Hylok (top left) in the first half on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, during the A-1 boys district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Randy Santel finishes his cookies and ice cream for the food challenge, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at the Warm Cookie. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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A sign with tips about encountering coyotes greets park users on a trail east of Lincoln East High School on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at Woods Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Bill Ganzel (left) and his father Dwight Ganzel pose for a photo with a red heart pillow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Bill and Dwight had open heart surgery 23 years apart, and the father gave the son his red heart pillow after Bill didn’t receive it from the hospital. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

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Lincoln City Council incumbent Sandra Washington (right) hugs Kate Heltzel as fellow incumbent Bennie Shobe looks on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Democrats party at Tavern on the Square. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Tucker the dog prowls the voting booths set up for the Lincoln city general election at Frontier Harley-Davidson, where his owner works, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

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Red Team quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass as Huskers head coach Scott Frost looks on Saturday, May 1, 2021, during the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

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Nebraska football fans fill the stadium for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic as the Huskers hosts a team scrimmage during the Red-White Spring game on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

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Omaha natives Samar Willits (left) and Zeina Renno celebrate as they near the finish line after completing a half marathon during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday, May 2, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln Southeast’s Ally Keitges (left) and Caroline Miller celebrate a point against Lincoln Southwest’s Grace Bartolome and Ella Dean in the No. 1 Doubles match on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Woods Tennis Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Ruth Sorilla, a canvasser with the South of Downtown Community Development Organization, hands out stickers to encourage voters at the group’s party at the polls on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the F Street Community Center. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Columbus baseball players celebrate the win during the A-3 district final, Monday, May 10, 2021, at Den Hartog Field. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Columbus baserunner Samuel Kwapnioski (9) gets tagged out by Lincoln East pitcher Ryan Clementi (6) attempting to score from third on a wild pitch in the first inning on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Quad 4 Roller Sports instructor Bryce Pearson (left) helps student Sean Siedhoff of Lincoln with a skating move on Saturday, May 8, 2021, during a weekly lesson at the Lincoln Sports Foundation. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln Northeast first baseman Tristan Brandt (left) leaps for an errant throw as Bellevue East batter Brett Barton (8) reaches base safely on Friday, May 7, 2021, during the A-3 district baseball game at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln East’s Lillie Shaw (22) is held by Elkhorn South’s Lillian Hulsey as she goes for the ball in the first half on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during the A-3 girls district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln, a two-year-old pure bred German Shepherd, gives a water-soaked high-five to owner Sydney Otto, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, before she throws a rubber toy into the water on Thursday, May 6, 2021, during a wonderfully warm day at Holmes Lake Park. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln North Star’s Bodie Duffy hits the ball, Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Holmes Golf Course. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

A bicyclist heads down a shaded Rock Island Trail on Thursday, May 6, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Papillion-La Vista South goalkeeper Andrew Streeter (bottom) goes for the ball at the feet of Lincoln Southwest’s Carter Novosad (9) and Titans teammate Peyton Hylok (top left) in the first half on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, during the A-1 boys district championship at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Randy Santel finishes his cookies and ice cream for the food challenge, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at the Warm Cookie. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

A sign with tips about encountering coyotes greets park users on a trail east of Lincoln East High School on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at Woods Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Bill Ganzel (left) and his father Dwight Ganzel pose for a photo with a red heart pillow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Bill and Dwight had open heart surgery 23 years apart, and the father gave the son his red heart pillow after Bill didn’t receive it from the hospital. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Lincoln City Council incumbent Sandra Washington (right) hugs Kate Heltzel as fellow incumbent Bennie Shobe looks on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Democrats party at Tavern on the Square. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Tucker the dog prowls the voting booths set up for the Lincoln city general election at Frontier Harley-Davidson, where his owner works, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Red Team quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass as Huskers head coach Scott Frost looks on Saturday, May 1, 2021, during the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Nebraska football fans fill the stadium for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic as the Huskers hosts a team scrimmage during the Red-White Spring game on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Top Journal Star photos for May

Omaha natives Samar Willits (left) and Zeina Renno celebrate as they near the finish line after completing a half marathon during the 2021 Lincoln Marathon on Sunday, May 2, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

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