The Grand Island Casino Resort’s temporary gaming space inside Fonner Park racetrack’s concourse is set for expansion. Slot machines and pari-mutuel wagering kiosks are currently available at the facility, with the addition of eight table games and forty more slots soon to come. This approval from the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC) is due to the successful launch of the provisional casino in late December and the community’s positive reception.
The Fonner Park facility is able to host a full-scale casino thanks to the authorization of commercial gambling through a ballot referendum in November 2020. The Hall County Livestock Improvement Association partnered with Iowa-based Elite Casino Resorts to transform the racetrack into a casino resort destination, with a 37,000-square-foot building featuring 650 slots, 20 tables, and a sportsbook estimated to cost around $100 million.
WarHorse Casino Lincoln and Harrah’s Nebraska at the Platte County Agricultural Park are two other temporary casinos recently opened in Nebraska with Fonner Park’s Grand Island Casino being the second. Tax receipts from the Grand Island Casino Resort show the facility has been profitable, with the Nebraska Gaming and Racing Commission receiving over $1.5 million in gaming taxes from January to March.
The permanent casino is designed to be a resort destination, with a 116-room boutique hotel, a seafood and steakhouse, family restaurant, sports bar, and show lounge. Additionally, there will be a full-service space that will offer massages, manicures and pedicures, saunas, and ice rooms. Training and hiring of dealers is already underway, with a sixteen-week dealer school being held at Fonner Park for those interested.
