Harrah’s Columbus Review for June 2026

Nebraska spent decades saying no to casino gambling. The state's constitution prohibited it, and multiple attempts to change that through the legislature went nowhere. Then in November 2020, Nebraskans took the matter into their own hands. Three ballot initiatives passed simultaneously, amending the state constitution to permit slot machines, table games, and sports betting at licensed horse racing venues. The Cornhusker State was in the casino business.

It took a little over three years for the first permanent casino to open. Harrah's Columbus Racing and Casino cut its ribbon on May 17, 2024, on a 100 million dollar site off Highway 81 on the northwest side of Columbus, Nebraska. It was Caesars Entertainment's first venture in the state, built in partnership with Columbus Exposition and Racing, a local non-profit entity tied to Platte County. The first jackpot was hit at 10:14 that opening morning - $1,876 on Power Push - and the property has been building its audience steadily ever since.

Harrah's Columbus sits at 5944 Howard Boulevard in Columbus, easily accessed off US Highway 81 on the northwest side of the city. Columbus is located on US 30 roughly 80 miles west of Omaha, making it a manageable drive for visitors from the state's largest city. The property has ample free parking on site and is open daily from 9am to 2am on weekdays and until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The casino floor covers 17,000 square feet, which is modest by national casino standards but entirely appropriate for a regional property in a city of this size. The space is well designed, clean, and smoke-free throughout the indoor gaming area, which is one of the most consistent positive comments in visitor feedback. I’d describe the atmosphere as lively without being overwhelming, and the staff were outstanding.

This is a young property, barely two years old at time of writing, and it carries that newness with some confidence. The Caesars brand provides a professional operational standard that gives a small regional casino a credibility boost, and the integrated racetrack gives it a dual identity that most comparable properties lack.

Table Games

With 11 live table games, Harrah's Columbus covers the essential lineup for its scale. The selection includes:

• Blackjack
• Craps
• Roulette
• Three Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold'Em
• Mississippi Stud

There is no dedicated poker room. The table minimums are generally accessible for casual players, reflecting the property's focus on serving its local and regional audience. The gaming floor is compact enough that the table games area feels lively even on quieter days.

Slots

With 400 slot machines across the floor, Harrah's Columbus has a solid selection for its footprint. The machines are all current generation and well maintained, covering penny games through higher denomination titles with a range of popular progressive jackpots available. The floor is regularly updated in line with the wider Caesars network, which means new slots titles arrive at a consistent pace.

Sportsbook and Racebook

The Caesars Race and Sportsbook is one of the strongest features of the property and genuinely impressive for a casino of this size. The 2,100-square-foot space includes 17 viewing screens anchored by a 163-inch video wall, making it one of the better sports viewing environments in Nebraska. Wagering covers all major US sports including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college sports, with live betting, futures, and parlays all available through both the physical counters and the Caesars Sportsbook app.

The racebook element adds something distinctive. Horse racing simulcast wagering runs alongside the sports betting year-round, and during the live racing season the energy of having an actual thoroughbred track operating outside the windows is something few casinos anywhere can offer.

The Racetrack

The one-mile thoroughbred racetrack at Harrah's Columbus is the longest in Nebraska, built as the centrepiece of the partnership between Caesars and Columbus Exposition and Racing. Live racing runs seasonally, typically across a stretch of weekends in summer, with 15 races per race day. Grandstand seating is all-ages, with 21-plus in-person and kiosk betting available for gaming guests. The track has drawn tens of thousands of visitors across its first two racing seasons, and the combination of a race day and a casino visit makes for a full day out 

Columbus has a deep history with horse racing, the sport was established in the community long before the casino arrived, and the Wishbones Bar inside the casino takes its name as a direct tribute to a beloved Columbus events centre that was demolished to make way for the development. It is a small but meaningful gesture toward the community this property serves.

Rewards Club

Harrah's Columbus is a full participant in the Caesars Rewards program, connecting players to one of the largest casino loyalty networks in the United States. Members earn Reward Credits and Tier Credits through gaming, dining, and hotel stays at Harrah's Columbus and across all 50-plus Caesars Entertainment properties in North America. Credits can be redeemed for free play, hotel stays, dining, and entertainment across the entire network. This is a significant advantage for a relatively small property, giving players rewards portability that a standalone regional casino simply cannot match.

The hotel at Harrah's Columbus opened in June 2025, completing the full development. The dual-branded property under the Marriott banner consists of a Fairfield Inn and Suites with 54 standard hotel rooms and a TownePlace Suites with 48 extended-stay suites, totaling 102 guestrooms across a four-story building. The hotel is connected to the casino by a ground-level indoor corridor, meaning guests can walk between accommodation and the gaming floor without going outside.

From the hotel windows, guests have views directly over the one-mile racetrack, which during the racing season, is one of the more unusual and appealing views available from any casino hotel in the Midwest. The Fairfield Inn brand standard covers all the essentials including pool access and a fitness facility, and both Caesars Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy members are eligible for discounted rates.

Where to Eat

Harrah's Columbus has two dining and bar options on site.

Brew Brothers is the main dining destination, an award-winning brewpub concept founded by the Carano family in 1995 and operated across several Caesars properties nationwide. The menu runs from burgers and sandwiches through steak and pasta dishes, with an extensive craft beer selection and wall-to-wall screens for watching sport.

Wishbones is the casino floor bar, named in tribute to the Columbus events centre it replaced, offering craft beer, cocktails, bar-top gaming, and eight large screens for following the action. It functions as the social heart of the casino floor and keeps the energy up during quieter periods.

Pool and Spa

The Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel section includes a pool and fitness facility for hotel guests. There is no dedicated spa at the property.

Entertainment

The entertainment offering at Harrah's Columbus is built primarily around the racetrack and the sportsbook rather than a traditional concert or events programme. Live racing during the summer season is the headline event, drawing visitors from across Nebraska and beyond. The Wishbones Bar stage hosts occasional live entertainment, and the property runs regular casino promotions and giveaway events throughout the year to keep regular players engaged.

Harrah's Columbus Racing and Casino is a well-executed regional property that carries more weight than its relatively modest footprint suggests. The smoke-free casino floor, the Caesars brand standards, the genuinely impressive Caesars Race and Sportsbook, and the live thoroughbred racetrack combine to create an experience that gives Columbus something it has never had before and that competes for attention across the wider Nebraska market.

The casino floor and hotel are both smaller than the larger regional competitors elsewhere, and the gaming volume reflects that. But for visitors in central Nebraska, for horse racing fans in the Midwest, or for Caesars Rewards members looking to earn credits in a new state, Harrah's Columbus delivers a complete and well-rounded experience that punches above its weight at every turn. Nebraska's first permanent casino made a solid first impression, and it has been building on it ever since.