GRAND ISLAND — Santa is bringing a casino to Grand Island this year.
The new temporary casino at Fonner Park is expected to be open by Christmas. Fonner Park Executive Director Chris Kotulak hopes the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission will give final approval to operate the casino on Dec. 14.
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The temporary casino is built inside the Fonner Park concourse. Work began on September 8.
When it opens, it will have 280 slot machines and kiosks for live and simultaneous horse racing betting.
“The Racing and Gambling Commission wanted to make sure that the races had a presence and I appreciate that, so they asked that we add extra television monitors and some betting terminals where people can bet on horse racing in addition to any games of casino they have. “they’re playing” in the temporary center, Kotulak said.
People will also be able to bet on simulcast and live races at the Finish Line restaurant, where keno operations will also continue. The temporary casino will include a snack bar.
Kotulak hopes workers will begin laying carpet this week.
Elite Casino Resorts, which is Fonner’s partner in the casino operation, is paying for the remodeling.
The Grand Island casino will be the second to open at one of the state’s licensed horse tracks after voters in November 2020 approved casino betting.
WarHorse Casino opened a temporary casino with 433 slot machines as Lincoln Race Course in October and generated more than $1.14 million in state and local tax revenue in its first five weeks.
Grand Island Casino will be open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, games will start at 8 and continue until 3
Fonner Park Executive Director Chris Kotulak stands inside the concourse area, which will soon house a temporary casino.
Table games (craps and blackjack) will likely be added a few months after the casino’s temporary opening, Fonner Park officials said.
The main entrance will be through the Heartland Events Center vestibule.
The temporary casino will be used for two to three years. The permanent Grand Island Casino resort in Fonner Park likely won’t open until 2024 or 2025, with much of the construction having to wait until after next year’s Nebraska State Fair.
Fonner Park’s annual live race meeting will begin on February 10.
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Photos: Lincoln Warhorse Casino Opening
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Tribal Elder and Nebraska Winnebago Tribe Tribal Council member Ken Mallory (left) and Wally Wollesen officially play the first games on the casino’s first slot machines during the groundbreaking ceremony for the first state-licensed casino, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at WarHorse Casino in Lincoln.
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People line up Saturday morning, Sept. 24, 2022, to enter WarHorse Lincoln, the first state-licensed casino to open.
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People line up Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, to enter WarHorse Lincoln, the first state-licensed casino to open.
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Tribal Elder Ken Mallory of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (left) and Wally Wollesen of the Nebraska Horsemen and Benevolent Association officially play the first games at WarHorse Casino on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
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Tribal Elder Ken Mallory of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (left) and Wally Wollesen of the Nebraska Horsemen and Benevolent Association officially play the first games at WarHorse Casino on Saturday.
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Tribal Elder and Nebraska Winnebago Tribe Tribal Council member Ken Mallory officially retires the casino’s first slot machine during a groundbreaking ceremony for the state’s first licensed casino, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at WarHorse Casino in Lincoln.
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WarHorse Lincoln has placed 51 slot machines in a separate smoking “room,” which qualifies as an outdoor space because it’s not completely enclosed.
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The dirty work continues at Lincoln Race Course, where WarHorse Lincoln is preparing to build a casino resort complex, construction that will extend through 2024.
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The temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln will have 433 slot machines, while also leaving dedicated space for betting on simulcast horse races.
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WarHorse Lincoln is the first licensed casino in the state.
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The dirty work continues at Lincoln Race Course, where WarHorse Lincoln is preparing to build a casino resort complex, construction that will extend through 2024.
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Slot machines are seen at WarHorse Lincoln’s temporary casino on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at Lincoln Race Course.
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Slot machines are seen at WarHorse Lincoln’s temporary casino on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at Lincoln Race Course.
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On Saturday, players will enter WarHorse Lincoln’s temporary casino for the first time.
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WarHorse Lincoln’s temporary casino includes a dedicated space for bettors on simulcast horse races.
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Slot machines at WarHorse Lincoln opened to the public on Saturday, September 24, 2022.
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Horse racing simulcast screens are seen at WarHorse Lincoln’s temporary casino is seen on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at Lincoln Race Course.
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Betting booths for simulcast betting are located in the temporary casino at WarHorse Lincoln.
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Slot machines at WarHorse Lincoln.