Caesars Entertainment has opened its temporary Columbus Casino at Platte County Ag Society Park in Columbus, Nebraska. While the construction of the permanent Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino is underway, visitors can in the meantime play on over 250 slot machines and bet on horse racing at Ag Park’s existing simulcast.
The casino’s first players were welcomed during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Caesars Entertainment leadership, Tom Jackson from Columbus Exposition and Racing, and Mayor Jim Bulkley.
According to Don Ostert, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino, the opening of Columbus Casino marks “a significant milestone” for the Harrah’s Columbus project. “With the tremendous support from the community of Columbus, we’re proud to open our doors and welcome guests to the temporary facility for the first time,” said Ostert.
The property is part of the Caesars Rewards loyalty program. Players at the temporary casino can earn and redeem Reward Credits at any of Caesars Entertainment’s properties across North America, including both Columbus Casino and the future Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino.
The permanent Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino is being built in partnership with Caesars Entertainment and Columbus Exposition and Racing. It will feature the longest thoroughbred racetrack in Nebraska and is expected to include a 28,000-square-foot casino and sportsbook with over 500 slot machines and 14 table games.
The property will house the renowned restaurant The Brew Brothers, founded by the Carano family in 1995, as well as a bar named Wishbones, paying homage to the local favorite event center that closed in 2021.
We are officially open! Bring your ID and head on over! 822 15th St. Columbus, Nebraska (Ag Park)
21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-833-BETOVER (1-833-238-6837) in Nebraska.#ColumbusCasino #NowOpen #Nebraska Casino pic.twitter.com/HYLVpDBa8o
— Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino (@HarrahsNebraska) June 12, 2023
Additionally, a Marriott Fairfield Inn and Townplace Suites will be constructed adjacent to the casino, with a direct walkway connecting the two. The project is set to be completed in the first half of 2024.
With the opening of the temporary gaming facility at Ag Park, Nebraska now has its third racetrack casino. The temporary Harrah’s Casino offers more than 200 slot machines and electronic table games. The addition of the temporary casino in Columbus joins the temporary casinos in Lincoln and Grand Island, further boosting the state’s gaming tax revenue.
WarHorse Lincoln, which opened in late September, has already generated nearly $6.2 million in state and local gaming taxes as of April 30, while the Grand Island Casino Resort, which opened in late December, has generated approximately $2.2 million in taxes.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2023/06/13/67505-caesars-opens-temporary-harrah-39s-columbus-casino-in-nebraska
