Up to now, gamblers have only been able to play slot machines at Nebraska’s two racetrack casinos.
But that may change soon.
The Grand Island Casino Resort wants to expand its temporary operation at Fonner Park to add table games.
Vincent Fiala, the casino’s general manager, said it plans to add craps, roulette and blackjack tables to its existing operation.
The planned expansion also would include additional slot machines, restrooms on the casino floor, an expanded dining area and space for entertainment on the weekends.
The planned changes, Fiala said, will allow guests to “have as much of a resort experience as they can in the temporary facility,†which currently has about 300 slot machines.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission will consider the proposal at its April 14 meeting in Columbus.
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Assuming the commission votes to approve the expansion, Fiala said it would likely be July before table games are up and running. He said the actual timeline will depend on how long construction takes and how long it takes to hire and train dealers.
By the end of February, the Grand Island casino already had generated more than $1 million in gaming taxes in just over two months of operation with just slot machines. WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, which has been open since late September, has generated nearly $4.4 million in gaming taxes.
Adding table games will likely attract more gamblers, and the Grand Island operation could be the only one offering that option for quite some time.
WarHorse doesn’t plan to add table games at its temporary Lincoln casino because it doesn’t have space.
One thing it does hope to add soon, however, is sports betting. Officials there said they hope to have the infrastructure in place to take sports bets by mid- to late May.
WarHorse does plan to have table games at its temporary Omaha casino once it opens, but that won’t be until early 2024, said Pete Graziano, vice president of marketing for WarHorse Gaming.
Caesar’s Entertainment is planning to open a temporary Harrah’s Casino at Ag Park in Columbus later this spring, but it also will have only slot machines to start.
WarHorse Lincoln opens to the public on Sept. 24, 2022.Â
Photos: Opening of the Lincoln Warhorse Casino
Tribal Elder and member of the Nebraska Winnebago Tribe's Tribal Council Ken Mallory (left) and Wally Wollesen officially play the first games at WarHorse Casino's opening in Lincoln on Sept. 24.
People line up Saturday morning, Sept. 24, 2022 at the entrance to WarHorse Lincoln, the first state-licensed casino to open.
People line up Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the entrance to WarHorse Lincoln, the first state-licensed casino to open.
Tribal Elder Ken Mallory of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (left) and Wally Wollesen of the Nebraska Horsemen's and Benevolent Association officially play the first games at WarHorse Casino on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
Tribal Elder Ken Mallory of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (left) and Wally Wollesen of the Nebraska Horsemen's and Benevolent Association officially play the first games at WarHorse Casino on Saturday.
Tribal Elder and member of the Nebraska Winnebago Tribe's Tribal Council Ken Mallory officially pulls the casino's first slot machine during the opening ceremony for first state licensed Casino on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at WarHorse Casino.
WarHorse Lincoln has placed 51 slot machines in a separate smoking "room" that qualifies as an outdoor space because it is not completely enclosed.
Dirt work continues at Lincoln Race Course, where WarHorse Lincoln is preparing to build a casino resort complex with construction extending into 2024.
The temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln will have 433 slot machines, while still leaving space dedicated for betting on simulcast horse races.
WarHorse Lincoln is the state's first licensed casino.
Dirt work continues at Lincoln Race Course, where WarHorse Lincoln is preparing to build a casino resort complex with construction extending into 2024.
Slot machines are seen at the temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at Lincoln Race Course.
Slot machines are seen at the temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at Lincoln Race Course.
On Saturday, gamblers will walk into the temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln for the first time.
The temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln includes a dedicated space for those wagering on simulcast horse races.
Slot machines at WarHorse Lincoln opened to the public on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
Horse race simulcasting screens are seen at the temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln is seen on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at Lincoln Race Course.
Betting kiosks for simulcast wagers are spaced out throughout the temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln.
Slot machines at WarHorse Lincoln.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
Matt Olberding
Associate managing editor
