Construction has begun on the third casino in Nebraska for WarHorse Gaming, located in South Sioux City.
WarHorse Gaming, under Ho-Chunk Inc., a subsidiary of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, initiated the construction of WarHorse Casino South Sioux City on August 27.
The $100 million investment by the tribe will feature a 100-room hotel, outdoor pool complex, live horse racing, and a gaming area with 600 slot machines and 16 table games.
“South Sioux City has been part of the vision for WarHorse from the beginning, and we’re excited to get started. We’ve seen the excitement WarHorse has generated in Lincoln and Omaha, not to mention the economic impact. This is a significant investment, and we’re building a destination we believe will make a real impact on the region,” said Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc.
In addition to the casino and hotel, WarHorse Casino South Sioux City will also house the Nebraska Ale Haus restaurant, a second-story patio bar, convention space, and an outdoor concert venue.
Development Phases
Morgan stated that the South Sioux City project will be completed in two phases, with the casino facility opening first to establish a market presence. Once fully developed, Ho-Chunk anticipates that the site will become a significant entertainment and hospitality destination in Nebraska.
“We want people to think differently about what a trip to South Sioux City can look like,” Morgan said. “You can come for the casino, but there will be plenty of reasons to stay. Whether it’s dinner, a concert, a weekend away, or a day at the races, we’re creating an entertainment destination that we think will give people across Siouxland a new reason to come to Nebraska.”
WarHorse Gaming leads the casino industry in Nebraska, having obtained authorization through a statewide ballot referendum in 2020. Following the enactment of the racino law, WarHorse collaborated with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) to establish the group’s racetrack casinos.
As of July 2026, WarHorse Casino Omaha generated the highest gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $70.3 million from its slots, table games, and retail sportsbook, leading Nebraska’s five racetrack casinos. WarHorse Casino Lincoln followed with GGR of $55.7 million, Grand Island Casino & Resort at $38.5 million, Harrah’s Columbus NE Racing & Casino at $14.9 million, and Lake Mac Casino & Resort in Ogallala at $8.2 million.
Online Sports Betting
Nebraska’s gaming sector may expand if voters approve a referendum in November regarding mobile sports betting. Presently, sports betting in Nebraska is limited to in-person wagers at the casinos.
WarHorse Gaming has endorsed the referendum campaign, while DraftKings and FanDuel provided significant financial support for the initiative.
Over time, Nebraskans may learn that enabling online sportsbooks could lead to increased annual property tax relief. Nebraska’s gaming law mandates that a significant portion of the state’s tax revenue benefits homeowners through residential property tax credits.
Opponents of the online sports betting initiative will argue that more gambling could result in financial struggles for families and that the push was primarily influenced by out-of-state gaming interests.