Western Nebraska casinos in waiting game as state explores adding new licensed horse tracks

The expense (LB876), which won 38-3 last authorization in the Legislature, efficiently places brand-new racetracks as well as linked gambling establishments — consisting of propositions for North Platte, Ogallala, Gering as well as Kimball — on hold while market as well as socioeconomic researches happen.

The expense authorized by Gov. Pete Ricketts routes the Nebraska Competing as well as Video gaming Payment to finish the researches “as quickly as achievable” yet no behind Jan. 1, 2025. Comparable researches would certainly be needed every 5 years.

Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte stated he thinks about LB876 “a means to maintain the procedure progressing” while avoiding ask for a 5- to seven-year postponement on any type of brand-new tracks.

“I am still not entirely pleased with the stipulations in LB876 as well as will certainly remain to function to fast-track North Platte’s suggested task,” he stated. “I assume there is a means to expand the auto racing sector properly while reducing the timeline for western Nebraska applications.”

Nebraska’s 6 existing steed tracks, at the same time, have the ability to look for online casino licenses once the Competing as well as Video gaming Payment obtains long-awaited guidelines in position.

Then, the 6 tracks — in Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, Columbus, South Sioux City as well as Hastings — are anticipated in differing levels to move on with building and construction of brand-new centers for online casino procedures.

Citizen authorization of online casino betting at steed tracks, nevertheless, swiftly brought propositions for brand-new tracks from Bellevue to the Nebraska Panhandle. That elevated problems of oversaturating the pc gaming market as well as stressing the state’s steed auto racing sector that is currently on unsafe ground.

The expense by Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, chairman of the General Matters Board, included stipulations to secure versus that while still meeting what citizens anticipated when accepting betting at qualified tracks.

The hold-up LB876 enforces, nevertheless, might compel North Platte authorities to use up the concern once more in the future.

Mayor Brandon Kelliher damaged a 4-4 City board link Aug. 17, 2021, for a conditional-use authorization for the suggested steed track-casino in between Interstate 80’s 2 North Platte leaves.

Possibility Enterprises LLC, had by Alan Erickson of North Platte, looked for the authorization as well as holds title to the 88-acre website.

North Platte Presentation as well as Competing Inc., developed in 2021 by Hastings racetrack driver Brian Becker as well as his household, would certainly acquire the website as well as develop a five-eighths-mile oblong track as well as 32,000-square-foot online casino.

The Beckers created Scottsbluff Presentation as well as Competing Inc. to develop a comparable racino at Gering’s south side. Worldwide Video gaming Nebraska, component of the Chickasaw People of Oklahoma’s Worldwide Video gaming Solutions LLC, would certainly establish both the North Platte as well as Gering gambling establishments.

Yet Possibility Enterprises’ authorization for the website will certainly run out in August 2023 if building and construction hasn’t begun already.

Gary Individual, head of state as well as chief executive officer of the North Platte Location Chamber & Growth Corp., stated he believes LB876 “is simply a momentary obstacle for areas west of Grand Island” to enter the online casino service.

He included: “It’s extremely bothersome when there are statewide efforts elected on by the individuals of the whole state of Nebraska yet some political leaders as well as powerbrokers really feel the state limit quits at the Grand Island city restrictions, some 318 miles from the Wyoming boundary.”

Grand Island’s Fonner Park as well as Hastings’ FairPlay Park are the western-most tracks accredited in Nebraska.

Along with the marketplace research study, LB876 collections needs for online race days at qualified tracks. A brand-new track might begin with a one-day yearly satisfy yet would certainly be needed to broaden to at the very least 5 days as well as 50 races in its 4th year as well as 15 days as well as 125 races in its 8th.

Existing tracks likewise would certainly have a one-time choice to move their licenses to an additional area — after the Competing as well as Video gaming Payment finishes the preliminary market as well as socioeconomic researches.

City leaders in Ogallala, 50 miles west of North Platte, have one steed track-casino strategy in hand as well as a 2nd en route.

The Ogallala City board elected 3-2 on Dec. 7 to more check out a proposition by Canterbury Park, which has a track as well as online casino in a Minneapolis residential area as well as likewise has actually suggested one along I-80 at Kimball.

Keith Area commissioners elected 5-0 on Dec. 8 to take on a comparable declaration of rate of interest. Canterbury Park would certainly develop a gambling enterprise, resort as well as five-eighths-mile track on 174 acres southwest of I-80 Departure 126.

An as-yet-unidentified team wishes to develop an Ogallala track as well as online casino, stated previous Sen. Ken Schilz, talking in behalf of Keith Area Location Growth.

He stated Ogallala leaders are much less worried by the flow of LB876. “We feel their doing the researches is an advantage for us in the smaller sized areas — the North Plattes, Scottsbluffs, Ogallalas as well as Kimballs.”

Ogallala as well as Kimball are closest amongst those 4 to Colorado’s significant Front Variety populace. Lots of Coloradoans on a regular basis check out Lake McConaughy near Ogallala each summer season.

Schilz stated the state requires time to develop its supply of Nebraska-bred equines to satisfy the regulations’ required that a specific variety of races include Nebraska-bred equines.

Besides, “wouldn’t you simply dislike to put a online casino in western Nebraska as well as have it not function?” he stated. “Our possibility is still there, yet we reach stroll right into this. We don’t need to encounter it.”