WarHorse Gaming, a division of the Winnebago Tribe’s economic development arm, Ho-Chunk, Inc., is developing two brick-and-mortar casino resorts in the state- WarHorse Casino Lincoln at the Lincoln Race Course and WarHorse Casino Omaha at Horsemen’s Park. These developments will be a game-changer for local economies, and they come at a time when sports betting has also taken root in the state.

High-Profile Venues Will Redefine Nebraska’s Hospitality Sector

The WarHorse Casino projects in Lincoln and Omaha signify a vital step forward for Nebraska’s economy. The state’s decision to allow Las Vegas-style casinos to operate at licensed horse racetracks can allow such venues to become catalysts for economic growth in their respective regions. WarHorse’s two projects aim to open next year, redefining Nebraska’s hospitality industry.

Both developments will feature ongoing expansions, eventually including on-site hotels with approximately 200 guestrooms, further enhancing their appeal as entertainment destinations. The operator’s safe gambling efforts have been instrumental in maintaining a safe and secure environment, bolstering customer confidence, and fostering an enduring reputation for quality and social responsibility.

WarHorse Casino Omaha opened a temporary gaming space in September 2022, featuring over 400 slot machines and pari-mutuel simulcast wagering. This gaming venue, set up within the infield at Horsemen’s Park, marked the beginning of the operator’s operations in Omaha. Subsequently, WarHorse Gaming applied to expand its offering by introducing sports betting at this location.

WarHorse Will Also Capitalize on the Launch of Sports Betting

The recent approval by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission allowed WarHorse to offer sports wagering at select venues after 1 November. The company has partnered with Kambi for its sports betting operations, leveraging the supplier’s substantial experience in the tribal gaming industry. This collaboration reflects the WarHorse’s commitment to providing patrons with a high-quality sports wagering experience.

The launch of sports betting in Omaha holds particular significance as it coincides with the height of the football season. The NFL and the NCAA traditionally dwarf all other sports during this period, and sports fans will finally have the chance to support their favorite teams. Legalizing sports betting should also eliminate the need for cross-state trips to Iowa, bolstering the local economy.

WarHorse Casino has expertly timed its entry into Nebraska to capitalize on its expanded gaming options. The recent regulatory developments and high-profile launches should stimulate local economies, provide a source of entertainment, and enhance the state’s gaming landscape. WarHorse Gaming’s commitment to delivering a superior gaming and sports betting experience aims to transform Nebraska’s gaming industry and aid sustained growth.

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The National Human Trafficking Hotline reports at least 200 cases of human trafficking in the state alone, and there are suspected to be hundreds more than go undetected.

Some of the victims of human trafficking are sent to casinos, which is precisely why the Lincoln Warhorse Casino and its parent company, Ho-Chunk, are going through training to help members of staff spot the signs of human trafficking and act preemptively.

Fighting Human Trafficking Before It Has a Chance to Take Off

Human trafficking cases have been on the up between 2017 and 2021. Now, casinos are taking the matter even more seriously and offering extensive training to their employees so that they can identify and stop the crime.

Commenting on this new initiative, Ho-Chunk director of government affairs Rachael Johnson said that casinos and businesses in general need to be aware of the issue and sober up to the fact that unpleasant as the reality is – this kind of crime may be permeating into local communities.

The initiative has brought together a number of individuals and experts, including Lynnette Grey Bull, founder of Not Our Native Daughter, which is an organization that raises awareness for raising awards about exploited and murdered indigenous women. Bull explained that indigenous women are most susceptible to violent crime and becoming the target of ethnic or violent crime:

I am both Lakota and Northern Arapaho. The statistics that hang over my head is I am the most stalked, raped, murdered, and sexually assaulted out of every woman in this country.

Not Our Native Daughter’s Lynnette Grey Bull

Focus on Protecting the Victims and Stop the Traffickers

Meanwhile, Women’s Center for Advancement president and CEO Jannette Taylor emphasized how important it is to work towards tackling the issue. Human trafficking has a serious impact on people’s lives. It may take up to five years in order to save victims. Yet, proper training could happen.

Taylor is confident that businesses can do their role, and notes that there are certain periods of time when trafficking “spikes:”

In Omaha, we have the College World Series, we have Berkshire Hathaway, we have all these big events where people from all over come to the city. And trafficking during that time, it just sort of sparks.

Women’s Center for Advancement’s Jannette Taylor

Hotels, casinos, gaming venues, and other businesses need to be aware of the problem and seek to resolve it by offering continuous training to their staff and monitoring for the early symptoms of the issue as well.

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