The Omaha City Council approved a plan Tuesday to provide $17.5 million in tax incentives for the development of a casino on the Horsemen’s Park property at of 62nd & Q Streets.

The $220 million project from Warhorse Gaming Omaha will be among the first casinos in the state, authorized by voters who chose to expand gambling across Nebraska at sites where thoroughbred horse racing takes place.

Warhorse is a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk Inc, which is the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s development arm.

Developers argued the project would “not be feasible” without tax increment financing (TIF), saying the $220 million was “at-risk” money.

Opponents wondered aloud why a casino set to make millions needed a tax break.