As reported by: Sioux City Journal
The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska had planned to open a new bingo-based casino in Emerson, Neb., today, but it is taking longer than expected to get the machines, computers and staff up and running, tribal chairman John Blackhawk said Thursday.

The tribe is opening the casino to position itself to quickly enter the Nebraska market with so-called Class III games such as slots, poker, roulette and other table games, if Nebraska voters approve a ballot initiative for that in November, Blackhawk said.

The tribe's WinnaVegas Casino is in Iowa.

Thursday's scheduled opening was too soon for everyone. The Nebraska Department of Revenue must first verify that the casino meets state requirements, but the tribe only notified the state on Wednesday that it planned to open the casino.

Terri Teuber, spokeswoman for Gov. Mike Johanns, said the state's only criteria are that the casino be on the reservation and within the scope of allowed gaming. The revenue department was working on verification Thursday, she said.

Emerson Police Chief Charles Chinn said the establishment, the Iron Horse Bar & Casino, is on reservation land, although it's right on the line. "If you stand right in the middle of the street in front of the place, you'd be in three counties -- Dixon, Dakota and Thurston," he said.

He said the casino is in the reservation portion of Dixon County.

Blackhawk said the establishment will offer 39 bingo-based gaming machines, classified by the National Indian Gaming Commission as Class II, a level not requiring a state gaming compact. A compact will be required if voters approve Level III casino gaming.

"The (tribal) council wants to be ready to have something we're able to come on line with," Blackhawk said. "We have all the framework we've negotiated in Iowa, so we're well ahead. It will be a quick transition."

Blackhawk said the machines, which are electronically linked to bingo machines on Indian reservations across the country, about half fill the 2,000-square-foot space.

A former steakhouse, the casino will offer a bar and grill, but not a full-service restaurant. Everyone must be 21 or older to enter, said Danelle Smith, the Winnebago Tribe's attorney. Blackhawk said the casino will employ at least 12 people, and Smith said it could eventually provide 24 jobs. She could not say what the payroll might be.

"It's a pretty small operation over in Emerson," she said. "We'll see what kind of business we draw there and plan accordinginly."

Town's reaction mixed

Emerson Mayor Kathleen Ostrand and Chinn both said there are a lot of mixed feelings about having the casino in town.

"We like to attract businesses," the mayor said, but the city was not involved in the casino's locating there. She said the tribe dealt directly with the state on such items as a liquor license. "It doesn't do us any good to deny them anything. They can go over our heads anyway," she said. Ostrand said it would be good if some of the revenue went to the local school.

Chinn, who described Emerson as "a happenin' little community," said people are glad to see a business going in. But, he said, "There's quite a few upset it's going to be a casino. I think the biggest part of it is that it's owned by a Native American organization."

Chinn said he didn't think the casino would present any problems for law enforcement except that his department is not cross deputized to make arrests on the reservation. "I don't think there's going to be a major problem as long as it's managed all right," he said.

Blackhawk said the tribe chose Emerson because it gets good traffic. It has at least one major employer, is in a tri-county area and gets traffic from Wakefield, Pender, Norfolk and Emerson itself.

"We're not looking to have an operation the size of WinnaVegas," he said.