Nebraska Casino Revenue Up 150% YoY in May

Nebraska commercial casinos generated $24.2 million in revenue in May 2025, a massive 149.3% rise from the $9.7 million generated in May 2024. The numbers the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission posted reflect revenues from slots, electronic table games, poker, table games, and retail sports betting. 

Dramatic Rise to Prominence for Warhorse Omaha

The standout performer in May’s figures is Warhorse Omaha, which produced gross gaming revenue of $9.1 million, compared to $98,104 in May 2024. That represents a revenue growth of 9156.1%, which is explained by the fact that the venue was not fully operational until August 2024. Before that date, the casino only provided retail sports betting. Slots and electronic table games became available from August 2024.

Warhorse Gaming Lincoln was the second-best performer in May, with a 52.3% year-over-year revenue increase to $7.3 million. Meanwhile, Grand Island Casino generated $5.58 million, and Harrah’s Columbus showed the smallest percentage rise, at 25.2%. 

Slot gaming accounted for most of the revenue in May, at $20.4 million, while table games contributed $2.2 million. Electronic table games contribute over $731,000, while sports betting brought in almost $802,000. The sector as a whole raised $4.8 million in tax revenue. 

Lake Mac Casino and Racetrack Nearing Completion

Construction is scheduled at the site of Nebraska's newest casino ahead of its August opening. Lake Mac Casino, Resort and Race Track, just south of the Interstate 80 interchange in Ogallala, will include a race track, a 98-horse barn, and a temporary casino. It is due to open on August 19, representing the latest expansion of the state’s gaming and racing facilities. 

“Our number one priority is our athletes, both equine and human. We’re excited to be hosting competitive quarter-horse races and providing strong purse incentives for horsemen across the region,” said the Vice-President and Director of Racing, on a tour of the venue with local journalists. 

Lake Mac will focus on American Quarter Horse racing, a tradition with deep roots in Nebraska. The track hopes to host 15 race days annually, boosting the sport’s visibility and sustainability. 

Casino gaming will also be a key part of the Lake Mac experience, according to one of the key figures who helped guide the project.

“No tracks are going to survive without casino gaming. That revenue helps fund the purse money, which attracts quality races and top-tier horses,” said the founder of Hastings Exposition and Racing, Inc., Brian Becker. 

If work is completed on time, the August 19 opening will feature the racetrack's debut, followed by the temporary casino's launch later that evening. The full resort will eventually include a hotel, permanent casino, jockeys’ quarters, and administrative offices, and there are reportedly plans for further expansion, including the possibility of another venue in Scotts Bluff County.