Commercial Gaming

Grand Island Casino Resort Eyes ‘Trump Bump’ Ahead of Visit

Posted on: October 4, 2026, 11:21h.

Last updated on: October 5, 2026, 04:18h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

Grand Island Casino Resort expects a crowd when President Donald Trump visits Fonner Park on Oct. 5
The $185 million resort has seen hotel bookings double since Trump’s visit was announced
Grand Island Casino generated just over $44 million in GGR through August, ranking third among Nebraska’s five racetrack casinos

Nebraska’s Grand Island Casino Resort is set to showcase its $185 million venue at Fonner Park when former President Donald Trump visits the property Monday, Oct. 5.

Donald Trump campaigns for his second presidential term in Las Vegas on January 27, 2024. Trump is traveling to Nebraska’s Grand Island, and casino officials at Grand Island Casino Resort hope that pays off with new visitors experiencing the resort. (Image: Maxim Elramsisy/Shutterstock.com)

Elite Casino Resorts, through a partnership with the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, opened the Grand Island Casino Resort in April 2025. Trump is set to speak at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center on Oct. 5. The venue, which is owned by Fonner Park, is directly across from the Grand Island Casino Resort.

We are planning on having a large crowd on Monday night or maybe even Monday afternoon,” Grand Island Casino Resort General Manager Vince Fiala told KSNB. “It’s great anytime somebody comes on campus, and especially the president, to see what Grand Island has to offer and what Nebraska has to offer. We’re just very glad to have him here and have people come from all over the state and maybe even other states to see us.”

The 37,000-square-foot casino offers approximately 750 slot machines, 20 table games, a poker room, and a sportsbook. The destination also includes a 162-room hotel with indoor and outdoor pools, three restaurants and bars, and a spa and fitness center.

Could Trump Visit Provide a Business Bump?

Grand Island Casino Resort ranks third among Nebraska’s five racetrack casinos in gross gaming revenue (GGR). Through August, Grand Island won just over $44 million from slots, tables, and sports betting. WarHorse Casino Omaha led the market with a GGR of $80.5 million, while WarHorse Casino Lincoln ranked second at $63.5 million.

Fiala hopes Trump’s visit will bring the casino in front of many new faces.

We have three different restaurants. We have a full gaming facility, hotel, and spa. I can tell you that our room numbers have doubled since the announcement was made. So, I’m anticipating we should be a full house … with people coming in from different areas of the state.”

Trump’s stop in Grand Island marks the first visit to the city from a sitting U.S. president since George W. Bush visited in 2006.

Political Context

Trump is visiting Nebraska ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The president is scheduled to deliver remarks around 6 p.m. CDT, with doors at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center opening at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

Trump is expected to stump for Republicans seeking to maintain control of Congress and emphasize the importance of Nebraskans electing Republican Brinker Harding in the state’s 2nd Congressional District. Harding is seeking to keep the 2nd District seat—long held by retiring U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R)—in GOP hands. Bacon announced he will not seek a sixth term to spend more time with family.

Harding is locked in a tight race against Democratic nominee Denise Powell, a small business owner and community advocate.