Nebraska: New tariffs drive up costs, threaten War Horse Casino’s expansion plans

New tariffs are putting financial strain on War Horse Casino's planned expansion, with CEO Lance Morgan warning that the measures have already cost the business $3 million in just two days.

“These tariffs have a cost,” Morgan said in a Facebook post, citing sharp increases in the price of essential equipment such as slot machines, which retail for around $30,000 and are frequently imported from Japan or China.

War Horse Casino, operated by Ho-Chunk Inc., is currently pursuing expansions in Lincoln and Omaha and plans to open a new location in South Sioux City. Morgan said those projects are now at risk due to the increased cost of importing gaming equipment.

These kinds of tariff policies disrupt the stability that is essential for businesses to thrive, Morgan said, adding that the sudden and substantial financial burden could slow down or delay expansion efforts.

Morgan also accused some vendors of price manipulation, alleging that suppliers have raised prices in anticipation of the tariffs despite not yet incurring additional costs.

"Economics is hard because of unintended side effects, and the way this is playing out is going to have very large and extended unforeseen consequences," he further stated.

The CEO warned that such tariff-driven instability could have broader consequences for businesses trying to grow in a volatile economic climate. Policies like these make it very hard to run a stable business, he said.

War Horse Casino’s concerns come amid broader industry unease over shifting U.S. trade policies that could disrupt capital investment and infrastructure planning in gaming and hospitality sectors.