Gambling revenue report shows Nebraska casinos poaching games from Iowa
Nebraska casinos are operating in temporary facilities while permanent resorts are being built, but temporary gaming rooms appear to have housed gambling dollars in the Cornhusker State.
Nebraskans approved a statewide referendum that would amend the state constitution to allow commercial casino gambling at the state's six racetracks during the 2020 election. Five of the hotels subsequently moved forward with casino projects, and three of them are already operating in temporary facilities.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) at the three preliminary casinos from July 1 through October of just over $72 million.
Although no year-over-year comparisons have been made since the first temporary casino — the Lincoln Warhorse Casino — opened in September 2022, the data shows that Nebraska’s casinos are stealing some games from neighboring Iowa.
Early Success
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission's GGR statistics for the state's three casinos in Council Bluffs (on the Missouri River across from Omaha) for fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021-2022) GGR as of June 30) was US$473.2 million. Gaming revenue from Ameristar, Harrah's and Horseshoe's 2023 tax campaign fell 2.8% to $460 million.
We keep saying this. These Council Bluffs casinos generate the majority of their revenue from Nebraska residents. It comes directly from the pockets of the state of Nebraska, so the tax revenue is accrued in Iowa,” said Lynne McNally, executive director of the Nebraska Knights Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) .
Iowa State is certainly aware of the growing gaming industry in Nebraska.The Iowa Legislature passed a law in 2022, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), that prohibits the state Gaming Commission from considering new casinos until at least July 1, 2024. Iowa's current casinos support the law.
Keep your game money in Nebraska
The 2020 referendum granted casino franchises to Knights Park in Omaha, Lincoln Raceway, Columbus Agricultural Park, Fonner Park in Grand Island, Fairplay Park in Hastings and the shuttered Atokad Downs in South Sioux City. All but Atokad Downs have converted their racecourses into casinos offering slot machines, table games and sports betting.
The state's commercial gaming law allows casinos approved by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission to operate temporary gaming facilities during construction to help finance the project. Pop-up casinos are open in Lincoln, Grand Island and Columbus.Omaha's pop-up casino offers sports betting and simulcast horse racing betting, but not casino games.
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is partnering with McNally's NHBPA to develop casinos at the organization's Lincoln Racetrack and Omaha Knights Park. Partners founded WarHorse Gaming. The partnership also includes development rights for the Atokad Downs casino, but no plans have been announced.
Caesars Entertainment operates a temporary casino at AgPark while also building the permanent Harrah's Casino Resort at the racetrack northwest of downtown Columbus along Highway 81. Caesars Entertainment is building a new mile-long racetrack, the longest in the state, to accommodate the 2020 gaming referendum.
Elite Casino Resorts is transforming Fonner Park into a casino resort called Grand Island. The Iowa-based gaming company is also working with Fairplay Park to move the track license to Ogallala, where it plans to build a track and casino.
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Source: www.casino.org
