Riverfront development may include casino

May 4, 2004

Riverfront development may include casino

By NANCY NEUROHR

oters in Nebraska may finally have an opportunity to decide if they want casinos in their state thanks to a petition drive called 'Keep the Money in Nebraska'. The petitions that have been circulated across the state are asking that the issue be placed on the November ballot. If approved, it would allow up to two casinos in Omaha and 4,900 slot machines and video poker machines in bars, restaurants and keno parlors across the state.

One key sponsor of the gambling petitions is Michael Gaughan, son of former Omahan and Las Vegas casino developer Jackie Gaughan. Gaughan, chairman for Coast Casinos in Las Vegas has been heading up the petition efforts with assistance from other keno and horse-racing interests.

Gaughan and his investors are proposing a $300 million facility that would include a first-class casino and a 500-room hotel. He is considering building the complex on a plot of land that is for

OmahaRiverFront.com 'The Venetian in Las Vegas'

sale next to Sandpiper Cove Marina and just east of Abbott Drive. The land is currently owned by the Richard F. Owen Company.

He believes the additional hotel rooms are needed in order to attract larger conventions to the Qwest Center. There are about 1,500 hotel rooms available in the area now. He also claims he could capture about 75 percent of the gamblers who now travel across the river each day to visit the facilities in Council Bluffs.

The Venetian, another Las Vegas company with Omaha ties, has also expressed an interest in building a casino in Omaha if voters approve gambling on the November ballot.

Riverfront property would be the obvious best location for this type of business. It is not only located very near the airport, but is also next to the new convention center where many out-of-towners will be gathering for various events.