The opening of WarHorse Casino in Omaha boosted state gaming tax revenue to its highest monthly take ever.
The casino brought in nearly $6.9 million for August in gross gaming revenue and paid 20% of that, or about $1.4 million in gaming taxes, according to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission.
The casino accounted for about 43% of the $3.2 million in state gaming tax revenue brought in during August by the four state-sanctioned casinos, the commission reported.
Before August, the highest monthly total was about $1.9 million in May.
"We're really happy to finally be open in Omaha, and we're only going to go up from there," said Lynne McNally, chief executive officer of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
The casino at 63rd and Q streets was built by Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, through a partnership with the association after state voters in 2020 approved gaming tied to racetracks.
"It was just Phase One that opened in August," McNally said. "Phase Two will complete the gaming floor in Omaha, and that will be open in spring of 2025. So that's what we're looking forward to, the full completion of the gaming floor."
McNally said the August revenue was about as expected.
She said the food service is a bit limited for now, but it will improve with the second phase.
"We have the Sweetwater Cafe, but it's grab-and-go kind of food," she said. "Phase Two will have a full sports bar with lots of beer offerings on tap. We'll have three other dining options that you can choose from."
The VIP room is open, but that's really the only amenity, she said.
The Omaha casino captured more than three times the gross gaming revenue of Nebraska's other new casino, Harrah's Columbus, despite being open only part of the month. Harrah's had $2.1 million in gross revenue.
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It also eclipsed the revenue of its sister casino, WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, which brought in $4.5 million, and of Grand Island Casino & Resort, which had about $2.5 million.
Harrahs Columbus is the only other fully operational casino in the state.
WarHorse in Lincoln is open in a temporary facility and scheduled to open its second phase in early November, McNally said.
Phase Two in Lincoln will double the size of the gaming floor, increasing the number of gaming positions from around 420 to 900, she said.
It will have a new sportsbook and simulcast area on the south side of the building, she said.
Grand Island Casino & Resort is aiming for a full opening early next year.
The bulk of the 20% gaming tax — 70% — goes into the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund, which is used to provide property owners with a tax credit on their bills.
WarHorse Omaha, which , contributed just under $1 million to that relief fund for the partial month.
Before the grand opening of the casino at Horsemen's Park, WarHorse had offered simulcast horse racing and a sportsbook in temporary facilities at the site but no casino gaming.
Twenty-five percent of the gaming tax goes to the county where the racetrack is located, and if the racetrack is located partially within a city or a village, the county and city or village split it. The remaining 5% is split between the state’s general fund and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund.
The horse track at Horsemen’s Park will hold just one race day this year — Sept. 29. That is the state minimum.
McNally said construction at the site prevents holding more races, but the intent is to have more races next year.
Legacy Downs, the race track at the WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, held the first-ever races on its new 7-furlong track last weekend and has more races Friday and Saturday.