The Thunder Valley Casino will be scaling back a planned expansion in light of the current economic downturn, a casino spokesman said Tuesday.

United Auburn Indian Community, which owns the casino near Lincoln, will be assessing the scope of the expansion, said Doug Elmets, casino spokesman.

"It's important given the uncertainty about future market demands to look at the situation and reassess the project," he said.

Elmets said the tribe will reconsider parts of the expansion over the next three to six months. Although there were no specific plans, he said, there might be "reductions in the square footage."

The casino broke ground in July on the project that then promised a four- or five-star hotel and a performing arts center.

Elmets said the project still will be completed by 2010 and that employees being affected by the scale-back are those employed by contractors and subcontractors.

"The casino is still a very successful gaming operation," Elmets said. "The same number of people are coming as before, (but) they're just not spending as much money."

– Stan Oklobdzija