#Lance Morgan

Nebraska senator targets ‘skill games’ for taxation, additional property tax relief. The number of such skill games has more than doubled across Nebraska in recent years. In November, there were 3,878 such games.

Nebraska state senator wants to introduce legislation to tax "skill games" as they expand in the state. The number of skill games has more than doubled in recent years. They are legal in Nebraska, but require some level of skills to win. There are more skill game machines in Lancaster County than slot machines at the WarHorse Casino. The AGA recently asked the US Department of Justice to intervene and require skill gaming to be regulated as gambling devices. It is estimated that the industry makes $27 billion a year in revenue. A portion of the revenue from casinos and slot machine revenue goes to property tax relief.

Voters approved casino gaming last year. A portion of the revenue from casinos and slot machines would go to property tax relief. Ho-Chunk Inc. estimates that taxing skill games might increase that by another $20 million. Businesses and charities that own, and profit from, the games are opposed to such a proposal. They say little “skill” is required to play the game and there is little difference between them and the slot machine. Some small businesses install their own skill game machines and make money from it. The Sowers Club of Lincoln makes about $75,000 a year from the 10-12 skillGames it installs in Lincoln sports bars.

Nebraska's first casino, WarHorse Lincoln, opened its doors to the public on Saturday. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of gaming enthusiasts. It's the first non-native casino to open in the state in nearly two years. The construction of the full $200 million casino and hotel complex is still ongoing. There are 433 slots machines in Warhorse's temporary casino. On Friday, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission granted the venue its license. They approved casinos at the licensed horse racing tracks. For its transitory casino War horse converted a simulcast/sports bar facility.

Ricketts allows casino gaming regulations. Ho-Chunk Inc. is going to apply for an interim license and start construction this fall. The Racing and Gaming Commission is expected to finalize the vote on June 2 and approve the application by June 6. The full facility will be open between 18 and 20 months. It will cost $5 million. it will create jobs and economic activity in rural Nebraska. There will also be sports betting.

WarHorse Gaming broke ground at the Lincoln Racecourse on Tuesday. The ceremony marks the beginning of an 18-month construction phase for the upcoming WarHorses Casino Lincoln. Warhorse Gaming is also planning to develop a casino in Omaha. It expects to open a temporary venue with 800 slot machines in September. The full-scale Warhorses will open in about 18 months. Last month, the Ogallala City Council and the Keith County Board of Commissioners approved plans for a $100 million project. Lake Mac Casino Resort & Racetrack will feature a racetracking, a 120-room hotel, 10,000 square feet of convention and event space, an RV park and a high-end truck stop.

Nebraska's first casino has contributed nearly $800,000 to a state property tax relief fund so far. WarHorse Casino in Lincoln has produced $1.1 million in tax revenue since it opened in late September. The city and county have received equal shares of $142,597 and $28,519 respectively. A permanent $200 million casino complex is set to open in the Lincoln in about two years.  Casinos are required to pay 20% of their gross gambling revenue in state gaming taxes. 70% goes to the state’s property taxes, 25% to host counties and host cities.

Nebraska's first gambling casino has contributed nearly $800,000 to a state property tax relief fund so far. The WarHorse Casino expects that gaming tax revenues will grow as they begin advertising and marketing the temporary facility at the Lincoln Race Course.

Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission approved a gaming operator license for the future WarHorse Gaming casino, racing and entertainment complex at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha. The complex is expected to open in 2024. Ho-Chunk Inc. and Nebraska Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association want to secure $700 million in financing and keep on track with the complex” renovation and expansion. Commissioner Jeffrey Galyen expressed criticism in relation to the application for this complex. Commissioner Shane Greckel abstained. Commission granted the gaming license contingent upon the developers meeting a number of conditions.

Nebraska's first state casino is expected to open Saturday morning in Lincoln. The temporary facility at the Lincoln Race Course Thoroughbred track is scheduled to make its debut at 10:30 a.m. with more than 400 slot machines. It is the final step in a road to casino gaming that started when Nebraska voters approved a gaming expansion in 2020. Construction is set to begin on a second WarHorse property at Omaha's Horseman's Park. It will be located in the infield of the racetrack. Before any new racino is allowed, the gaming commission is going to consider the impact of additional gambling on communities and other facilities.

The WarHorse Casino Lincoln opened its doors on Saturday morning. More than 100 people queued outside the property to await the opening. Hundreds more people arrived throughout the day. The casino is a collaboration between the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

Nebraska's first casino is scheduled to open Saturday morning. The state gaming commission will consider final approval of the casino license of WarHorse Gaming Lincoln. Problem gamblers are being urged to file a "voluntary self-exclusion form" to bar their admission to the casinos. Construction will begin soon on a second casino at Omaha's Horseman's Park. A third Warhorse casino project is on the back burner. It will be pursued when the permanent casinos are completed in Lincoln and Omaha in late 2024. It's estimated that casino gambling could add $100 million statewide to a property tax relief program run by the state.

Ho-Chunk Inc. and Nebraska Horsemen are building a racetrack-casino in Omaha. The new gambling regulations were approved in May. WarHorse Gaming, owned by Ho- Chunk, broke ground on a Lincoln casino in two months. Ho Chunks contributed $6.6 million to the campaign called “Keep the Money in Nebraska” that passed in November. Nebraskans are spending about $400 million per year at casinos in Iowa and other bordering states.

The Warhorse Casino project broke ground earlier this week in Lincoln, Nebraska. The construction process of the $200 million venue is now underway. It should be ready for the public within 18 months.

Ground was broken on the WarHorse Casino at Lincoln Race Course Tuesday morning. The project will be completed in 18 months and create 900 jobs. It will also add $100 million in tax revenue to the state for property tax relief. Two other Warhorse casinos are being built in Omaha and South Sioux City.

Nebraska's horse racing industry is counting on the casinos to revitalize the sport of kings in the state. Ho Chunk Inc. is working to develop casinos in Omaha and Lincoln with Nebraska Horsemen. The plan is to build a $200 million facility where Horseman's Park sits. Construction on this facility will hopefully begin in late winter or early spring. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission could release rules and regulations for casinos next week. It's a new law and the process takes a long time. Morgan says it makes sense to get it right. He hopes to have some aspects of the gaming operations going in Nebraska by late summer.