The Columbus City Council, Nebraska, has approved a proposed casino, racetrack and hotel project, local media reports. To be located northwest of town, the casino results from the partnership between Columbus Exposition and Racing (CER) and Caesars Entertainment.
Approval from the City Council was secured on Tuesday last week, and the redevelopment plan was submitted by company Convergence, LLC, overall developer of the project and owner of the land. Convergence first presented its plan to the Columbus Planning Commission in a meeting earlier this month as part of a process to secure tax increment financing (TIF) for the project.
“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,” Mayor Jim Bulkley said on Tuesday, according to Columbus Telegram. “There was no negative feedback that came back. Again here this evening there has been no negative feedback.”
City Administrator Tara Vasicek said the project would be a big addition to the city, although she noted that for the area to be used “substantial improvements” were first required, including work on public infrastructure, a traffic impact analysis, and landscape improvements. This could cost “over $11 million” for public streets, water and sewage improvements.
Columbus Exposition and Racing first announced it would be partnering with Caesars to bring the Harrah’s brand to the city last year. The $75 million project will feature a 1-mile horse racing surface, a 40,000 square-foot-casino and sportsbook with over 400 slot machines and 20 table games, space for retail and restaurants, and a hotel.
The venue is expected to be completed in late 2022 and follows an expansion of gambling in the state last year, allowing for casino gaming at racetracks. “We look forward to creating an all-new Harrah’s experience in Columbus and connecting it to our Caesars Rewards network across the country,” Caesars CEO Tom Reeg said last year.
Today in partnership with the Columbus Exposition and Racing, we announced CER’s selection of Caesars Entertainment to build and operate a Harrah’s casino and racetrack in Columbus, Nebraska.
Details: https://t.co/8gZPSxqiFp pic.twitter.com/uPuyBptSiM
— Caesars Entertainment (@CaesarsEnt) July 2, 2021
While the gaming expansion was welcomed news for the industry and the state’s existing racetracks, plus new players seeking to enter the state, legislators in the Cornhusker State remain divided over how many venues to allow.
On Monday, the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee discussed amendments to a casino proposal seeking to bar any new “racino” from being licensed in the state prior to January 2025. However, the three-year moratorium plan brought opposition within the eight-senator committee, reports Nebraska Examiner.
While some legislators claim the constitutional amendment that opened the doors to casinos in the state puts no limits on the total number of venues, others argue 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.
North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson discussed a proposed racino in his community, claiming that with no existing racetracks west of Grand Island, residents of western Nebraska would have no outlet to gamble. This could potentially be remedied by a proposed amendment that would allow racetracks to relocate, clearing the way for the Hastings track to move to North Platte.
Additionally, the amendment would require an extensive impact study before the State Racing Commission before any new racino be approved, reports the cited source. It would also establish a minimum number of racing days at state tracks, up from the current one-race minimum.
At the moment, the question to be resolved is whether more than six tracks in the state could be a viable endeavor. Lobbying efforts have pushed as of late for approval of new racinos in cities outside of the ones now home to existing racetracks, including North Platte, Ogallala, Gering, Norfolk and Bellevue.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2022/03/02/61592-nebraska-columbus-greenlights-proposed-caesars-racino-legislators-divided-over-total-number-of-venues
