Actualités des opérateurs
US – Harrah’s casino and racetrack approved by 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.”
"Lorsque les électeurs du Nebraska ont ouvert le jeu sur les hippodromes, nous savions que notre expérience dans l'industrie des casinos combinée à notre engagement dans les courses de chevaux faisait de Harrah's un choix parfait", a déclaré Tom Reeg, PDG de Caesars Entertainment. « Nous sommes impatients de créer une toute nouvelle expérience Harrah's à Columbus et de la connecter à notre réseau Caesars Rewards à travers le pays. »
"Au-delà de l'apparition des jeux de casino au Nebraska, nous sommes ravis de l'opportunité de transformer les courses de chevaux à Columbus", a déclaré Joe Morris, vice-président principal des courses chez Caesars Entertainment. « L'opportunité de construire une nouvelle piste de première classe sur notre propriété illustre notre engagement envers l'industrie des courses et notre intention de perpétuer la riche tradition des courses de la région. »
Live Horse Racing fait partie de la communauté de Columbus depuis plus de 75 ans. Les membres du conseil d'administration du CER, Tom Jackson, Dan Clarey, Russell Placzek, Chad Sucha et Dennis Hall, organisent des courses en direct et des diffusions simultanées à Ag Park depuis 2013. Columbus et les comtés environnants continuent de soutenir les courses en direct avec des courses en couverture sponsorisées par des entreprises locales, des réunions de classe et des monuments commémoratifs. .
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.
