SOUTH SIOUX CITY — Ho-Chunk Inc. has been waiting for years to even the score with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City.
The opening of the Hard Rock in downtown Sioux City a decade ago ate into the revenues of the WinnaVegas Casino Resort near Sloan, Iowa. WinnaVegas, owned by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, had opened 22 years earlier.
Ho-Chunk, the tribe's economic development arm, tried in vain to get in on the ground floor of the casino action in metro Sioux City. In 2012, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission invited developers, paired with nonprofit partners, to submit proposals for Sioux City's first casino on dry land. A Ho-Chunk-led group pitchedÌýa $110 million project that called for renovating the historic Warrior Hotel, which at the time had been empty for decades.Ìý
In 2013, the IRGC granted the state gaming license to the Hard Rock group, spearheaded by a Las Vegas-based developer and the nonprofit Missouri River Historical Development.ÌýÌý
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After that defeat, Ho-Chunk led the long, arduous process of getting casino gambling legalized in Nebraska, partnering with the state's moribund horse-racing industry in a mutually beneficial arrangement that would breathe life back into the tracks. In 2012, Ho-Chunk purchased the dying-but-still-licensed Atokad racetrack in South Sioux City, and laterÌýunveiled its vision for a proposed $30 million casino and entertainment venue, which was contingent on getting casinos legalized. Races have been held at Atokad once a year to maintain the license.Ìý
In 2020, Nebraska voters finally gave their blessing to casino gaming at the state's horse tracks. Now, four years later, things are starting to fall into place for the Sioux City metro's newest casino.Ìý
"We have every intention of taking a bite out of the Hard Rock, 'cause they've been doing it to us for a long time," Ho-Chunk CEO Lance Morgan said in an interview late last month.
Morgan has stressed repeatedly that Ho-Chunk, through its WarHorse Gaming subsidiary, has been plowing all its capital and energy into the casinos in the state's two largest metros; WarHorse has invested $400 million into casinos at tracks in Omaha and Lincoln.
The Omaha casino opened in August and the Lincoln casino, which was the first racetrack casino to open in Nebraska in September 2022, just unveiled an expansion that includes table games and another 400 slot machines.
With those sites now up and running and generating revenue, the time has come to shift its attention to South Sioux City, Morgan said.Ìý
"They've (Hard Rock) got a reprieve, because we've been focusing on Omaha and LincolnÌý— but we are going to build it, and we are going to take back market share," Morgan said.
Moving the Atokad racetrack from its longtime site, just east of U.S.Ìý 75 and U.S. 77, is the first order of business. WarHorse has acquired land in an undeveloped area of South Sioux City for a new gaming complex. The site is south of Interstate 129, not far from the Dakota Avenue interchange.
"We're going to start building the track, as soon as the weather breaks in the springÌý— the first thing we're going to build is a five-eighths mile racetrack," he said. Races at the new track, he said, should start in August or September.Ìý
Construction on the casino, Morgan said, should begin in the fall of 2025 or possibly the spring of 2026, with an opening targeted sometime in 2026.Ìý
The casino details are still in the early stages. Morgan said the South Sioux City casino, like the Omaha and Lincoln casinos, will be built in phases. The casino will, he said, have a hotel and dining options attached. And it will be a costly undertaking.Ìý
"Even a small casino is about a $60 million-plus investment," he said.Ìý
Morgan acknowledged that the South Sioux City casino will, ironically, probably draw some bettors away from the tribal-owned WinnaVegas.Ìý
"Sioux City is a very crowded gaming market, including our tribe's WinnaVegas," he said. "And this will impact WinnaVegas slightly."Ìý
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Top Journal Star photos for November 2024
Iris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday.
Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Covered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes.
Norris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Superior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Reflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Omaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Hasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard ofÌýVitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln.
Southwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Millard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Second graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students.
Norris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln.
A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
Katie Goeling (left) fills out her ballot while her son Gunner, 4, holds her hand during Election Day on Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Malcolm.
Abigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center.
Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) during the first half of the game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12."
Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review.
Nebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Cadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday.
UCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Lincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3.
After the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School.
A line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to .
