Operatörsnyheter
USA – Harrahs kasino och racerbana godkänd av Columbus Council
By phil - 3 mars 2022
Columbus Exposition and Racing (CER) and Caesars Entertainment have now had its plans to operate a harah’s casino and racetrack in Columbus, Nebraska, approved by the Columbus City Council.
Mayor Jim Bulkley said: “I think it’s important to recognize this proposal was in front of planning and zoning a week ago (and) it was aired there and had the ability for the public to come forward and give their inputs. There was no negative feedback that came back. Again here this evening there has been no negative feedback.”
The approximately $75m casino development, conveniently located off of Highway 81 in Columbus, is expected to feature a new one-mile horse racing surface, a 40,000-square-foot-casino and sportsbook with more than 400 slot machines and 20 table games, as well as a restaurant and retail space.
The venue is expected to open in late 2022.
Tom Jackson, Managing Partner of CER, said at the project’s announcement last July: “As we work to create a new entertainment destination for the Midwest, this partnership will be an important economic driver and job creator for Columbus and the surrounding communities. It also further reinforces our commitment to the hardworking people involved in the Nebraska horse racing industry. We look forward to providing new gaming and entertainment experiences to our valued customers.”
"När Nebraska-väljarna öppnade för spel på kapplöpningsbanor visste vi att vår erfarenhet av kasinobranschen i kombination med vårt engagemang för hästkapplöpning gjorde att Harrahs passade perfekt", säger Tom Reeg, VD för Caesars Entertainment. "Vi ser fram emot att skapa en helt ny Harrah's-upplevelse i Columbus och koppla den till vårt Caesars Rewards-nätverk över hela landet."
"Utöver början av kasinospel i Nebraska, är vi stolta över möjligheten att förvandla hästkapplöpning i Columbus", säger Joe Morris, SVP för Racing på Caesars Entertainment. "Möjligheten att bygga en ny, förstklassig bana på vår fastighet illustrerar vårt engagemang för racingbranschen och vår avsikt att fortsätta områdets historiska racingtradition."
Live Horse Racing har varit en del av Columbus community i mer än 75 år. CER styrelseledamöter Tom Jackson, Dan Clarey, Russell Placzek, Chad Sucha och Dennis Hall har drivit Live Racing och Simulcasting på Ag Park sedan 2013. Columbus och omgivande län fortsätter att stödja Live Racing med Blanket Races sponsrade av lokala företag, klassåterträffar och minnesmärken .
There is still some confusion as the eventual number of casinos that will open in Nebraska. Some believe that the constitutional amendment puts no restriction on the number of casinos but others, claim that the approval of venues at racetracks only implies the already existing six tracks in Omaha, Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Island, South Sioux City and Hastings.
