2021. 7. 20. 14:02ㆍ카테고리 없음
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Gamblers could see new casinos in Omaha and Lincoln by this time next year now that voters have ended Nebraska’s longtime ban on the industry, a leading supporter said Wednesday.
Casino Resorts & Hotels in Downtown Omaha Current page Casino Resorts & Hotels in Downtown Omaha Nebraska may have travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Dismiss close travel advisory. With Expedia, enjoy free cancellation on most Omaha Casino Hotels! Read and compare 13807 reviews, choose your Casino Hotels in Omaha, NE and save with Expedia.co.th. Welcome to Ohiya Casino & Resort, located just a few minutes east of Niobrara Nebraska on scenic Highway 12. Ohiya Casino is owned and operated by the Santee Sioux Nation, the casino has the distinction of being Nebraska's first casino. Check prices on Downtown Omaha Casinos Tonight Jan 26 - Jan 27 Check prices in Downtown Omaha for tonight, Jan 26 - Jan 27 Tomorrow night Jan 27 - Jan 28 Check prices in Downtown Omaha for tomorrow night, Jan 27 - Jan 28 This weekend Jan 29 - Jan 31 Check prices in Downtown Omaha for this weekend, Jan 29 - Jan 31 Next weekend Feb 5 - Feb 7 Check prices in Downtown Omaha for next weekend, Feb 5.
Lance Morgan, the president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., said the corporation plans to spend $300 million to add casinos at existing horse-racing tracks in both cities and South Sioux City. The South Sioux City project could take longer because it isn’t as developed as the other sites.
Casino Resorts & Hotels in Downtown Omaha Current page Casino Resorts & Hotels in Downtown Omaha Nebraska may have travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Dismiss close travel advisory.
Ho-Chunk is the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
“We want to come out swinging with a high-quality, competitive product,” Morgan said in an interview. “We’re not going to slow down. We’re going to press down on the gas a little bit.”
Morgan said casino backers and the state’s horse racing industry want to open casinos as soon as possible and then expand them to include restaurants, hotels and other amenities.
Roughly two-thirds of voters approved three constitutional amendments Tuesday to legalize casinos at Nebraska’s six licensed horse racing tracks, regulate the industry and devote some of the money to a tax credit for property owners.
Gambling measures won big at the polls on Tuesday, with three states authorizing legal sports betting and three others either approving or expanding casino gambling.
Maryland, South Dakota and Louisiana approved sports betting. Similar to Nebraska, Virginia approved casino gambling in four locations and Colorado expanded the number and type of casino games it can offer.
Morgan said Ho-Chunk should be able to open Nebraska’s casinos fairly quickly, although any plans would still require approval from state regulators, which could slow down the process. In 2018, voters chose to expand Medicaid in Nebraska, but the program wasn’t implemented until 18 months later.
The gambling measures faced stiff opposition from Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who donated at least $250,000 of his own money to a newly formed anti-casino group.
In a statement, Ricketts said: “I have tasked my team with reviewing the ballot initiative and to ascertain next steps. Nebraska will respect the will of the people and the decision they made on Election Day.”
The casino ballot campaign also faced criticism from former Gov. Kay Orr, former Nebraska football coach and athletic director Tom Osborne and other high-profile conservatives. Ho-Chunk Inc. spent millions on a petition drive, advertising and legal services to defend the ballot initiative against a lawsuit.
Gambling opponents said they were disappointed but not surprised by the loss, given the amount of money spent on pro-casino television ads. They said they expect casino projects to sprout up quickly, but didn’t rule out a lawsuit to try to stop them.
“We got clobbered,” said Pat Loontjer, executive director of the anti-casino group Gambling With The Good Life. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they started construction today.”
Some voters interviewed on Tuesday said they supported the gambling measures because the industry already has casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the Nebraska border. Iowa receives millions of dollars each year from Nebraska gamblers who cross the Missouri River.
“I supported those to help out with taxes so our money is not going across the border to Iowa for their gambling,” said Adam Byrd, a 29-year-old semi truck driver from Omaha.
Casinos In Omaha Ne
But Christine Reisser, a 56-year-old retired teacher from Omaha, said she voted against the measures because of its potential impact on families.
“I think it is an erosion of a lot of breadwinners,” she said.
___
Associated Press reporter Josh Funk contributed from Omaha.
___
Best Western Hotels Omaha Nebraska
Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte