Developers of a $200 million casino and hotel envisioned for the Lincoln Race Course released an early glimpse of their plans Tuesday, showing off a floor with slot machines and table games.
A 3D rendering from WarHorse Gaming also features a hotel with rooms overlooking the horse track southwest of U.S. 77 and West Denton Road.
Announced in a press release, the video provides aerial views of the complex and an interior view of the casino.
WarHorse Gaming, a subsidiary of the Winnebago Tribe’s Ho-Chunk Inc., is partnering with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association to operate casino gambling at tracks in Lincoln, at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha and Atokad Downs in South Sioux City.
Shortly after voters in November approved constitutional amendments to legalize casino gambling at Nebraska horse tracks, officials eyed the Lincoln Race Course as the location best poised to capitalize because of its new and expanded horse track, proximity to a populous city and distance from competing casinos.
“Although we’re still early in the process, it’s exciting to see the potential of a world-class gaming operation for the city of Lincoln and state of Nebraska,” Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk, said in the release. “Our goal is to build a top-notch facility that compliments horse racing while at the same time offering a resort style casino/hotel on the property.”
Once the casino and hotel are finished, WarHorse could bring as many as 925 jobs to the city while generating as much as $15 million in state and local tax revenue annually, according to project officials.
Casino gambling is expected to begin in part later this year with full expansion anticipated in 2022, though the state has yet to formally establish the regulatory commission overseeing casino gambling.
Our best Omaha staff photos of January 2021

Creighton's Shereef Mitchell takes off on a fast break as St. John's Vince Cole, left, and Greg Williams Jr. pursue in the first half on Saturday, January 09, 2021.

Seniors Aysha Ridley and Quintin Idt work during a math readiness class at Gretna High School. The class is in partnership with Metro Community College.

The front room at the Hepburn home. Megan loves using color; she thinks it’s more fun for daughters Harriet and Georgie. She painted the flower picture.

Deer walk through snow at Zorinsky Lake in Omaha on Thursday, January 07, 2021.

Fog begins to lift as the downtown Omaha skyline starts to appear as viewed from the Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Monday, January 04, 2021.

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner dunks the ball against Seton Hall's Ike Obiagu.

A snowball is thrown at a counterprotester driving by on K Street on the north side of the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday. Protesters had gathered to protest the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

The Holiday Lights Festival’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular fireworks show filled the sky over downtown Omaha Thursday.

Creighton's Alex O'Connell gets hit by a ball as St. John's Rasheem Dunn falls over while trying to grab the loose ball in the first half on Saturday, January 09, 2021.