WarHorse Gaming has commenced work on its third casino in Nebraska, located in South Sioux City.

This morning, Aug. 27, WarHorse Gaming, which is a division of Ho-Chunk Inc. and the business entity of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, broke ground on WarHorse Casino South Sioux City.

According to the tribe, its third gambling establishment in Nebraska signifies an investment of $100 million.

The development will incorporate a hotel with 100 rooms, a complex for outdoor swimming, live horse racing, and a casino area that will feature 600 slot machines, 16 gaming tables, along with a small sportsbook that will have sports betting kiosks.

"South Sioux City has been part of the vision for WarHorse from the beginning, and we’re excited to get started. We’ve seen the excitement WarHorse has generated in Lincoln and Omaha, not to mention the economic impact. This is a significant investment, and we’re building a destination we believe will make a real impact on the region,” said Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc.

Alongside the hotel and casino, WarHorse Casino South Sioux City will feature a comprehensive dining establishment named the Nebraska Ale Haus, a bar located on the second level, meeting spaces for conventions, and an outdoor area for concerts.

Development in Stages

Morgan noted that the South Sioux City project will be constructed in two stages, starting with the opening of the casino to “create a footprint in the market. ” After the entire project is finalized, Ho-Chunk anticipates that it will become one of the prominent entertainment and hospitality spots in Nebraska.

"We want people to think differently about what a trip to South Sioux City can look like,” Morgan said. “You can come for the casino, but there will be plenty of reasons to stay. Whether it’s dinner, a concert, a weekend away, or a day at the races, we’re creating an entertainment destination that we think will give people across Siouxland a new reason to come to Nebraska.”

WarHorse Gaming has established itself as the leading entity in Nebraska's casino sector, which received voter approval via a statewide ballot referendum in the year 2020.

Following the establishment of the racino legislation, WarHorse collaborated with the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) to create the racetrack casinos associated with the organization.

As of July 2026, WarHorse Casino Omaha recorded a total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $70.3 million from its slot machines, table games, and in-person sportsbook. This performance placed it at the top among Nebraska's five racetrack casinos.

In second place was WarHorse Casino Lincoln, which achieved a GGR of $55.7 million over the same seven-month period. Ranking third was Grand Island Casino & Resort with $38.5 million, followed by Harrah’s Columbus NE Racing & Casino in fourth with $14.9 million. Lake Mac Casino & Resort in Ogallala secured fifth place with a total of $8.2 million.

Online Sports Betting

The gaming landscape in Nebraska has the potential for growth in the near future if voters approve a ballot referendum on mobile sports betting in November. At present, sports wagering in Nebraska is restricted to in-person bets placed at casinos.

WarHorse Gaming has shown its backing for the referendum initiative, while the primary funding for the political campaign has come from DraftKings and FanDuel.

In the upcoming months, Nebraskans will be informed that legalizing online sportsbooks could enhance their annual property tax relief. According to Nebraska’s gaming regulations, the state tax revenues must chiefly provide benefits to homeowners through residential property tax credits.

Those opposed to the online sports betting proposal will argue that an increase in gambling could exacerbate financial difficulties for families, asserting that the initiative is mainly motivated by interests from outside the state.