Operatornieuws
VS – Harrah's casino en racebaan goedgekeurd door de raad van Columbus
By Phil - 3 maart 2022
Columbus Exposition and Racing (CER) and Caesars Entertainment have now had its plans to operate a Harrah’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.”
"Toen de kiezers in Nebraska het gamen op racebanen openstelden, wisten we dat onze ervaring in de casino-industrie, gecombineerd met onze toewijding aan paardenraces, ervoor zorgde dat Harrah's perfect bij ons paste", aldus Tom Reeg, CEO van Caesars Entertainment. “We kijken ernaar uit om een geheel nieuwe Harrah's-ervaring in Columbus te creëren en deze te verbinden met ons Caesars Rewards-netwerk in het hele land.”
“Naast het begin van casinospelen in Nebraska zijn we heel blij met de mogelijkheid om de paardenraces in Columbus te transformeren”, zegt Joe Morris, SVP Racing bij Caesars Entertainment. “De mogelijkheid om op ons terrein een nieuw, eersteklas circuit te bouwen illustreert onze toewijding aan de race-industrie en onze intentie om de legendarische racetraditie van het gebied voort te zetten.”
Live Horse Racing maakt al meer dan 75 jaar deel uit van de Columbus-gemeenschap. CER-bestuursleden Tom Jackson, Dan Clarey, Russell Placzek, Chad Sucha en Dennis Hall exploiteren sinds 2013 Live Racing en Simulcasting in Ag Park. Columbus en omliggende provincies blijven Live Racing ondersteunen met dekenraces die worden gesponsord door lokale bedrijven, klassenreünies en gedenktekens .
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.
