Nebraska: $185 million Grand Island Casino Resort cleared to open April 10

The $185 million Grand Island Casino Resort is set to open its permanent facility on April 10 at 6 p.m., marking a significant milestone for Nebraska’s gaming and hospitality sector. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission unanimously approved the opening, allowing the casino to operate 24 hours a day, year-round.  

The seven-story development is expected to generate economic benefits for Grand Island and the surrounding region. The resort includes 162 hotel rooms, a casino, multiple dining venues, and entertainment options, positioning itself as a key tourism and leisure destination.  

“The great thing about this, this is entertainment, this is a resort destination,” Casino General Manager Vince Fiala told KSNB. “It’s not just to come and gamble. If you want to come here and eat, you want to come stay at the hotel; please do. I mean that’s what we’re here for. It is a getaway for the weekend.”

The casino, which initially opened as a temporary facility in December 2022, has significantly expanded its workforce. Employment numbers have grown to nearly 400, up from 135 in August 2023.  

The new casino will feature 20 live table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, Pai Gow, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Mississippi Stud. It will also house Nebraska’s first poker room and 750 slot machines, with 650 located on the main floor and the rest in a designated smoking lounge.  

Beyond gaming, the resort will offer live entertainment on weekends at a dedicated show lounge.  

The dining selection includes Ruthie’s Steak and Seafood, a fine-dining restaurant on the seventh floor, 22 & Vine Café, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Draft Day Sports Bar, a 21+ sports betting venue. A banquet space with 200 seats and an outdoor patio will also be available for events.  

Guests will have access to luxury amenities, including an indoor and outdoor pool, spa, sauna, and a European-style cold room. Hotel rooms on the top floors, as well as Ruthie’s Steak and Seafood, will provide views of live horse racing events.  

To accommodate guests, the resort will provide 1,100 newly paved parking spaces instead of constructing a previously proposed 400-stall parking garage. Shuttle buses and golf carts will be available on peak days.  

The facility also addressed concerns about obstructed racetrack views in the horse racing clubhouse, where 400 seats were impacted due to architectural changes. The addition of two large LED screens—measuring 9x13 feet and 7x10 feet—will provide an alternative viewing experience.  

The casino’s presence has already benefited Nebraska’s horse racing industry. Since partnering with Fonner Park, the casino has contributed over $2.5 million to the track’s purse fund and $700,000 to the Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders Association for racing programs and aftercare initiatives.  

“We could have never done this without casino money,”  Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak told The Grand Island Independent. “The purse money we desperately need has finally surfaced.”