OGALLALA- Western Nebraska may soon be able to offer casino gambling thanks to a transfer of a racing license from Hastings to Ogallala. Hastings Exposition and Racing, Inc., which possesses the racing license, announced it has submitted an application to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission surrounding the move. Brian Jorde, a spokesman for the Hastings group, said he is excited for the committee to approve the application so they can hit the ground running.

The Hastings company said it plans to establish a multi-track quarter horse racing circuit and partner with Elite Casino Resorts. Elite Casino owns the Grand Island Casino resort and would invest $100 million in the racetrack and casino — also known as ”racinos.” The 174-acre site would be called the Lake Mac Casino Resort and Racetrack, potentially capitalizing on tourism to Lake McConaughy.

The casino would move away from the Grand Island casino and stretch the new sites out to the panhandle. “Western Nebraska always gets shut out,” Jorde said. “Our plan is to get this up and going in Ogallala and then get up and going in Gering and have a Quarter Horse circuit between the two locations.” The Chickasaw Nation was expected to be the partner for the Hastings casino, a new partner has yet to be determined.

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