Date Posted: December 17, 2024, 09:52h.
Last Updated: December 17, 2024, 09:58h.
The final casino approved by Nebraska legislators and voters in 2020 is taking shape.
Ho-Chunk Inc. and WarHorse Gaming, subsidiaries of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, revealed their project to transform the former Atokad Downs racecourse into a racino attraction.
The $50 million development includes a new 5/8 mile racetrack and grandstand near Interstate 129 and 152nd Street at C Avenue in South Sioux City. The site, currently farmland, is about 1.2 miles east of the closed Atokad Downs track that operated from 1956 to 2012.
According to Ho-Chunk CEO Lance Morgan, it will be a smaller casino compared to others.
The goal is to bring back horse racing to South Sioux City and introduce gaming without impacting business at the tribe’s WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa. Called WarHorse South Sioux City, the plan aims to offer a unique gaming experience along with parimutuel wagering at the racetrack.
“Our focus is not to compete with WinnaVegas,” Morgan added. “Our research indicates that most revenue will come from Hard Rock Sioux City, IA.”
Cornhusker Gaming Expansion
Nebraska’s 2020 commercial gaming bill aimed to revive the state’s horse racing industry and generate new tax revenue to reduce property taxes. The law allows gambling, including slots, table games, and sports betting, at licensed horse racetracks with annual live racing events.
The tribe is also a partner in casino development with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA), which owns horse racetracks in Omaha and Lincoln. WarHorse Casino Lincoln opened recently, and WarHorse Casino Omaha debuted in August.
The Omaha location features nearly 800 slots, 19 live dealer tables, and a sportsbook. Lincoln offers 830 slots, 10 tables, and sports betting. Additionally, WarHorse plans to add a 200-room hotel in Lincoln.
Future development in South Sioux City may include a larger casino floor, a hotel, and an events center. The region stands to benefit from a 25% share of the casino revenue tax.
Morgan stated, “It will provide additional funds to improve schools and infrastructure in the community.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025.
Atokad Rebranding
Ho-Chunk is rebranding its Nebraska tracks under the WarHorse name. Horsemen’s Park in Omaha and the Lincoln Race Course names are no longer in use. The tribe is also abandoning the Atokad Downs name for its new South Sioux City facility.
The name Atokad is Dakota spelled backwards, paying tribute to the track’s location in Dakota County.
After Atokad Downs closed in 2012, Ho-Chunk acquired the property with hopes of legalizing slot machines at state racetracks, as other states had done to support their horse racing industry. The tribe’s efforts paid off in 2020.
Ho-Chunk contributed $6 million to the 2020 casino referendum and was the main supporter of the “Keep the Money in Nebraska” campaign.