Casinos & Racing: Legal Gambling Near Omaha

Where: Ground is broken at Horseman's Park at 6303 Q St. in Ralston, Neb.

Gaming features: The casino will open in phases, starting in 2023 with slot machines.

On-site hotel: Not yet

Where: 1031 Ave. H, Carter Lake, Iowa

Distance from Omaha: Just outside of city limits, near Eppley Airfield

Gaming features: 200+ slot machines available in the casino's first phase of opening. There are plans to expand it from 9,500 square-feet to 70,000 square-feet to hold 600 slots and video machines, as well as a new sportsbook with a gastro pub.

Restaurant: Prarie Pub

On-site hotel: No

Where: 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa

Distance from Omaha: A few miles outside of Omaha city limits

Gaming features: More than 1,300 slot machines plus 15 stations with five games on the main floor of the casino. Games include Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Big 6. Sports betting is allowed at The Sportsbook.

Restaurants: Bella's Bakery & Cafe; 2200 Market features three restaurants inside (From Vietnamese to pizza and street tacos); Amerisports Bar; Doubledown Dogs; and Club 38 for loyalty club members.

On-site hotel: Yes, with whirlpool King Spas suites and Octagon luxury suites available. There's a pool.

Where: 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs, Iowa

Distance from Omaha: A few miles outside of Omaha city limits

Gaming features: More than 1,370 slot machines, and more than 50 table games include Craps, Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. Sports betting allowed at Caesars Sportsbook.

Restaurants: JB's Cafe, Whiskey Roadhouse, Jack Binion's Steak House

On-site hotel: Yes, kind of. The Hilton Garden Inn is connected by an indoor walkway.

Tip: Whiskey Roadhouse brings in some wonderful touring bands.

Where: 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, Iowa

Distance from Omaha: A few miles outside of Omaha city limits

Gaming features: More than 500 slot machines, and table games including Craps, Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette. Sports betting allowed at Caesars Sportsbook.

Restaurants: Slice Pizzeria, 360 Steakhouse, and Guy Fieri's Kitchen + Bar (opening in 2023)

On-site hotel: Yes, and includes suites. Also, dog-friendly rooms available.

Tip: Stir Concert Cove is a great outdoor music venue at Harrah's.

Where: 17214 210th St, Onawa, Iowa

Distance from Omaha: About 60 miles

Gaming highlights: Casino has slots, table games, and electronic table games

Restaurant: Upstream (features a buffet)

Hotel: No

Where: 7055 S. First St., Lincoln, Neb.

Distance from Omaha: About 65 miles

Gaming highlights: The new casino is in phased opening. Currenly, here are 430+ slot machines and simulcast racing. When complete, the casino anticipates more than 1,100 slots and aboutt 30 table games.

Restaurant: Winner’s Circle Grill (quick service)

Hotel: Not yet

Where: 200 Main St., Walthill, Neb. (a new, larger replacement casino is being built and will be located at 203 Main St.)

Distance from Omaha: About 85 miles

Gaming features: 50 video gaming machines. New casino will add more video gaming machines as well as slot machines.

Restaurant: None, though the new casino will eventuallly have a deli.

On-site hotel: No

Where: 214 Industrial Road, Winnebago, Neb.

Distance from Omaha: About 90 miles

Gaming features: 83 gaming machines

Restaurant: Rock River Grill

On-site hotel: No

Where: 111 Third St., Sioux City, Iowa

Distance from Omaha: About 100 miles

Gaming features: The 45,000-square-foot casino has gaming tables and more than 640 slot machines.

Restaurants: Fuel American Grill, Main + Abbey

On-site hotel: Yes, boutique hotel includes a complimentary beverage when you arrive. Seasonal outdoor pool. Dog-friendly rooms available.

Where: 1106 Main St., Emerson, Neb.

Distance from Omaha: About 105 miles

Gaming features: 83 gaming machines

Restaurant: Yes, and there are weekly specials, including Friday Night Chicken and Fish Feast and Saturday Night Prime Rib

On-site hotel: No

Where: 777 Winners Circle, St. Joseph, Mo.

Distance from Omaha: About 130 miles

Gaming features: More thann 450 slots and video poker machines, plus table games including Trilux Blackjack, Craps, and Mississippi Stud.

Restaurants: Jo's Coffee, Full House Restaurant, Fireside Sports Bar & Grill, and Winners Bar & Grill

On-site hotel: No

Where: 700 E. Stolley Park Road, Grand Island, Neb

Distance from Omaha: About 150 miles

Gaming highlights: Fonner Park is all about horse racing right now. There is daily coast-to-coast simulcast horse racing. In the spring, there is live horse racing from about mid-February to mid-May.

Restaurant: Fonner Keno and Finish Line Restaurant (90 betting carrels, table seating for 300 and booth seating for 120 with individual TV monitors at each of the 30 tables.)

Future plans: There are big plans in Grand Island, with a proposed $100 million casino resort at Fonner Park floating around. A temporary casino will open in Fonner Park by the end of December with 280 slot machines and a snack bar.

Where: 777 NW Argosy Casino Parkway, Riverside, Mo.

Distance from Omaha: About 180 miles away

Gaming features: More than 1,100 slot machines and video poker games, as well as 38 table games including Blackjack, Craps, and Pai Gow Poker.

Restaurants: Zoe's Coffee Shop, Red Lotus Asian Kitchen, Leo's Deli, 99 Hops House, The Journey: Wood-Fired Steaks, and the VIP Lounge for loyalty program members.

On-site hotel: Yes, and it's a AAA four-diamond rated spa & hotel.

Where: 1 Riverboat Drive, North Kansas City, Mo.

Distance from Omaha: About 185 miles away

Gaming features: More than 1,500 slot machines, as well as table games like Blackjack and Roulette to Pai Gow Poker, and a Poker Room.

Restaurants: Winning Streaks sports bar, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Bite & Bean, Royal Noodle Bar, Popculture Gourmet Popcorn & Ice Cream, and Laurel Lounge for loyalty program members.

On-site hotel: Yes, including four types of suites

Where: 800 E. Front St., Kansas City, Mo.

Distance from Omaha: About 185 miles away

Gaming features: More than 900 slot machines, as well as table games like Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette.

Restaurants: Parlays, 1800 Noodle Bar, and Pulse Bar, plus a holiday pop-up bar from mid-November to the end of December.

On-site hotel: No

Where: 3200 North Ameristar Drive, Kansas City, Mo.

Distance from Omaha: About 190 miles away

Gaming features: More than 2,200 slot and video poker machines, 66 table games, 15 poker tables, and the largest live poker room in the area.

Restaurants: Sugo, Willy Jose's Cantina, Amerisports Brew Pub, An Pho, The Burger Joint, Big Tony's Pizza, Great Plains Cattle Co., and Club 38 for certain loyalty program levels

On-site hotel: Yes, including mini suites

Where: 53142 Highway 12, Niobrara, Neb.

Distance from Omaha: About 190 miles away

Gaming features: They have traditional three-reel slot machines and video slot machines.

Restaurant: Legends, The Cafe Court, and the Lounge

On-site hotel: Yes, with two-room suites available with a whirlpool tub. Pool and hot tub on site, too.

Tip: Bingo games are held there, with one upcoming night advertising a guaranteed $1,000 blackout prize.