Ho-Chunk Plans New Casino and Racetrack in South Sioux City

Nebraska may soon get a new casino and horse racing track as Ho-Chunk Inc. eyes South Sioux City. The company has been planning a new property ever since the state greenlit horse racing four years ago.

The New Casino Will Broaden Ho-Chunk’s Horizons

Immediately after horse racing was legalized, Ho-Chunk made plans for casino properties in Lincoln and Omaha. Its subsidiary, WarHorse Gaming, which is in charge of the two projects is still working hard to get them running.

As for South Sioux City, the company plans to start work on its new project in Spring 2025 at the soonest, with construction planned to begin in the fall of 2025 or the spring of 2026. At that point, Ho-Chunk will move the horse racing currently taking place at the Atokad race track to the new parcel of land south of Highway 20.

The company is convinced that the new racetrack, once finished, would generate significant tax benefits for the city, encourage tourism and create new jobs. The casino itself, on the other hand, was described as a fairly modest property compared to other casinos. Its development would cost approximately $50 million, according to the initial estimates.

The Casino Will Be Located South of Highway 20

Ho-Chunk’s new casino is planned to include many slot machines, gaming tables and a sportsbook. At first, the property will not have a hotel but the company is considering adding one in the future.

The new casino and racetrack will occupy two 40-acre plots of land, with the casino set to be built on the west parcel and the track on the east one. The land itself is located south of Highway 20.

In addition, Ho-Chunk will need to convert its horse racing license to a casino license prior to the new venue’s opening.

The New Property Would Generate Significant Benefits

In an interview with KTIV, Lance Morgan, Ho-Chunk Inc.’s chief executive, noted that the new casino might compete with WinnaVegas, a nearby tribal property. However, early studies show that most of the revenue will actually come from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City. In any case, Morgan said that his team does not plan to actively compete with WinnaVegas.

Elaborating on the benefits the new property will bring, Morgan argued that 25% of the casino tax will go to the locale, allowing the local government to invest in schools and infrastructure in the community. If the property is successful, this would mean millions in additional revenue for South Sioux City and Dakota County as a whole.

However, Morgan was not able to provide an estimate as to when the new casino will open.