WarHorse Omaha’s casino operations should launch by autumn 2024 and, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, will further add to Council Bluff’s woes. This is the WarHorse Omaha property, which would completely refurbish Horsemen’s Park, turning it into a very attractive gaming destination. The Full Extent of the Impact Is Yet to Be Seenįurther revenue decline may await Iowa’s casinos as the property expected to have the profoundest impact on Council Bluffs is not completed yet. Harrah’s was the only property to remain somewhat stable, reporting a modest increase of $400,000 for the first four months of FY 2024. Horseshoe got the worst of it, with revenue for the period plummeting by $9.2 million year-on-year. However, the first four months of FT 2024 alone saw the three Council Bluff casinos record a decline of $10.9 million.įor reference, Ameristar recorded a decline of $2.1 million. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission pointed out that locals have expected the Council Bluffs market to go down following the launch of gambling in the neighboring state.įor reference, Iowa’s regulator said that Ameristar, Harrah’s and Horseshoe reported $460 million in revenue in FY 2022-23, down 3% ($13.2 million) year-on-year. In the meantime, the impact of gaming in Nebraska was not entirely surprising to Iowa. The aforementioned group represents the interests of Nebraskan horse owners and trainers and was a fervent supporter of the legalization of casino-style gaming in the state. This appears to have quickly impacted gambling revenues in Iowa, proving the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association’s claim that much of the money in Council Bluffs’ casinos is spent by Nebraskans. As reported by the Omaha World-Herald, two big Council Bluffs casinos have been recording lower revenues – an impact that was also outlined in the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Q3 revenue report.Įastern Nebraska launched slot gaming in late 2022, following the legalization of casino-style gambling at horse racing tracks in 2020. Nebraska’s launch of legal casino gaming has impacted casinos in the neighboring state of Iowa.

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