Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Name

Running Aces Casino & Racetrack

Legal name

North Metro Harness Initiative, LLC d.b.a. Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack

Website

https://runaces.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino, Hotel and Racetrack (Racino) Hospitality

NAICS

Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (71321), Other Gambling Industries (713290)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardrooms & Poker Rooms (Land-Based) (MPAEAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations (MPAEADAA)

Keywords

• Casino gaming
• Harness horse racing
• Poker tournaments
• Hospitality entertainment
• Live racing wagering

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Gaming Operations: Revenue from table games (Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, Face Up Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, 4-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Aces Live 5-Card Draw Poker), poker room with 24/7 tables and tournaments, and progressive jackpot payouts across table games and poker
2. Horse Racing Operations: Live harness horse racing from May through September with pari-mutuel wagering on-track and via simulcast; revenue from takeout on all exotic wagers (23%) and standard wagers (17%)
3. Hotel Accommodations: Full-service hotel operated under Wyndham Trademark Collection brand; offers modern Scandinavian-designed rooms with racetrack views, indoor pool, business center, workout room, room service dining, and complimentary breakfast
4. Food and Beverage: On-site dining including food menu, drink menu, weekly specials, and live racing menu; revenue from food sales, alcoholic beverages, and catering services for events
5. Entertainment and Events: Ticketed events including comedy shows, outdoor concerts at The Outskirts venue, drive-in movies, and stay/play packages; also revenue from season passes (Kit Pass $450, Kabootal Pass $900, Whole Kit & Kabootal $1,350)
6. Group Events and Catering: Meeting space rentals (Jack Room, Queen Room, King Room) for banquets, corporate events, weddings; outdoor venues include parking lot, barns, trout pond, and trackside patio accommodating up to 2,000 guests

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Running Aces operates a smoke-free, 24/7 entertainment complex featuring a Las Vegas-style card room (table games, 24/7 poker room, electronic stadium gaming terminals) paired with live standardbred harness racing (May–September), pari-mutuel wagering, and simulcast racing. The property also includes a Wyndham-affiliated hotel, multiple dining outlets, the Aces Rewards loyalty club, the Trout Air catch-and-eat trout fishing experience, and the Outskirts outdoor entertainment venue for concerts, movies, and group events.

Product overview

Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack is a multi-faceted entertainment complex combining casino gaming, live horse racing, hospitality, and dining. The property operates as a high-energy Las Vegas-style card room (Table Games, Poker Room with 24/7 live tables, Stadium Gaming terminals) alongside family-friendly live harness racing (May-September), a Wyndham-affiliated hotel with Scandinavian-inspired design, and diverse entertainment options including Bingo, Comedy Shows, The Outskirts outdoor venue, and Trout Air fishing experience. The Aces Rewards loyalty program ties together gaming, dining, and hotel offerings, while Group Events and conference facilities support private functions. Mobile wagering and simulcast racing extend pari-mutuel betting beyond the property.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trout Air: Trout fishing experience and tavern offering fresh fish dining
• The Outskirts
• Aces Rewards

Products and services

• Table Games Las Vegas-style card room offering Blackjack variants ($1 Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, Blazing 7's Blackjack, High Limit Blazing 7's, High Stakes Free Bet), Face Up Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, 4-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em and the I ♥ Suits progressive jackpot game, with no commission or ante and progressive jackpots across multiple games. Aimed at adult gaming enthusiasts.
• Poker Room Live poker tables operating 24/7 with Texas Hold'em (Limit, No Limit, Spread Limit), Omaha (Pot Limit, Spread Limit) and Aces Live 5-Card Draw, featuring bad beat jackpots and tournaments. Aimed at recreational and competitive poker players.
• Stadium Gaming Electronic gaming terminals offering 5 Card Draw Poker and Blackjack with minimum bets of 50 cents and no commission or ante. Aimed at casual gaming customers who prefer electronic play.
• Weekly Poker Tournaments Weekly tournament schedule including The Royal Double Stack ($250), The Eighty ($80), The 50/50 ($50), Monday Night Free Roll (FREE), The Seventy Five ($75), The 60/60 ($60), The Splash Pot ($90), The Player's Special ($150), Double Green Chip Bounty ($150) and Pot Limit Omaha ($150). Aimed at competitive poker players.
• Easy Money Poker Tournament High-stakes seasonal poker tournament with a $500 buy-in and 30,000 starting chip stack. Targeted at serious poker tournament players.
• Live Harness Racing Live harness horse racing May through September with free admission, pari-mutuel wagering on-track and exotic bets (Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Hi-5, Pick 3/4/5), table reservations via Tock, and handicapping resources via Trackmaster. Aimed at racing fans and families.
• Race Book (On-site Wagering) On-site pari-mutuel wagering facility for live and simulcast horse racing with live racing replays. Aimed at horse racing fans betting on-property.
• Mobile Wagering Phone-based wagering service allowing customers to place bets on Running Aces horse races and simulcast races from anywhere without visiting the property. Aimed at remote racing customers.
• Running Aces Hotel (Trademark Collection by Wyndham) Smoke-free hotel operated as a Trademark Collection by Wyndham, featuring Scandinavian 'Up North' design, business center, workout room, indoor pool, room service, hotel bar, guest laundry, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and racetrack-facing rooms. Aimed at leisure travelers, wedding parties and corporate guests.
• Aces Rewards Loyalty Club Free loyalty club membership offering gaming coupons or cash up to $500 for new sign-ups, with ongoing points earning across gaming, dining and hotel stays. Aimed at repeat customers of the property.
• Trout Air (Catch-and-Eat Trout Pond) Trout pond fishing experience where guests can catch their own dinner, with pole rentals, fishing packages, and fresh fish dining at the on-site Trout Air Tavern. Aimed at families and casual visitors.
• The Outskirts Outdoor Venue Outdoor entertainment venue in the main parking lot operated with Hay Creek Entertainment, hosting drive-in movies, live concerts, and Stay, Play & Party packages bundling hotel stays with show tickets, food credit and poker chips. Aimed at concert and movie attendees and weekend travelers.
• Comedy Shows Monthly comedy club featuring national headliners from Comedy Central, HBO, Dry Bar Comedy and more, plus local and regional comedians. Aimed at adults seeking live comedy entertainment.
• Bingo Live bingo entertainment held at the Running Aces facility. Aimed at casual bingo players and groups.
• Group Events and Meeting Space Meeting and event rentals including Jack Room, Queen Room, King Room and Full House (capacity up to 240 theatre style) and outdoor spaces including the 500,000 sq ft parking lot, horse barns (46,000 sq ft with paddock), trout pond (120 guests) and trackside patio (2,000 guests), with catering via Golder Hospitality. Aimed at corporate and social event planners.
• Food & Dining On-site dining outlets including the main dining area off the lobby, Finish Line Plaza during racing, an outdoor food tent, indoor bar, and Main Stage Munchies at The Outskirts venue, with weekly specials, food and drink menus. Aimed at property visitors, racing fans and entertainment attendees.
• Concert for a Cause Special event series combining live music with charitable fundraising at the venue. Aimed at concert attendees and charity partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Progressive jackpot awards ranging from $5,000 to $578,930 create excitement and media coverage
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hay Creek EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHay Creek Entertainment hosts and executes The Outskirts outdoor entertainment venue in the Running Aces main parking lot. This partnership enables concerts, drive-in movies, and outdoor events with Hay Creek managing ticket sales, event logistics, and customer service. Running Aces provides the venue space while Hay Creek handles production and operations.
• Trademark Collection by WyndhamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRunning Aces Hotel operates as part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham network of independent hotels. Wyndham provides booking platform access, brand affiliation, and distribution through wyndhamhotels.com. The property maintains its individual character while leveraging Wyndham's marketing reach and loyalty program.
• Golder HospitalitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGolder Hospitality manages private events in the hotel meeting space. Contact: Harley Anderson ([email protected]). Golder provides event coordination, catering management, and hospitality services for corporate meetings, banquets, and group bookings.
• Rec Poker PodcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRunning Aces is the official sponsor of the Rec Poker Podcast, a weekly series featuring interviews and strategic information for recreational poker players. This podcast sponsorship supports community building and player development among recreational poker enthusiasts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Shooting Star Casino: White Earth Nation casino with hotel, bingo, and event center in Mahnomen, MN. Competes for regional Minnesota gaming and entertainment customers outside the Twin Cities metro.
• Prairie's Edge Casino Resort: Upper Sioux Community casino resort in Granite Falls, MN featuring gaming, hotel, and event space. Comparable integrated gaming-hospitality-entertainment offering at smaller scale than Mystic Lake.
• Treasure Island Resort & Casino: Prairie Island Indian Community casino resort on the Mississippi River, MN, combining gaming, hotel, marina, and event facilities. Comparable integrated entertainment-resort model targeting regional Minnesota customers.
• Mystic Lake Casino Hotel: Minnesota's largest casino hotel, operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Offers 4,000+ slot machines, table games, a large hotel, multiple restaurants, and an entertainment venue — competing for the same Twin Cities gaming and hospitality dollar with significantly greater scale and tax-free status.
• Grand Casino Hinckley: Sister property to Grand Casino Mille Lacs operated by the Mille Lacs Band, offering casino gaming, hotel, RV park, and indoor water park. Overlaps with Running Aces' entertainment-driven regional draw.
• Grand Casino Mille Lacs: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe casino featuring slots, table games, bingo, hotel, and entertainment venues. Competes for the broader Minnesota gaming market with the same diversified resort model.
• Seven Clans Casino: Multiple Minnesota tribal casino properties operated by the Mille Lacs Band. Compete for the regional Minnesota gaming market with overlapping gaming, hotel, and entertainment offerings.

Regional players

• Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs: Penn Entertainment-operated regional casino in Council Bluffs, IA. Comparable land-based regional casino-resort scale and operating model, but serving a different geographic market.
• Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin: Ho-Chunk Nation casino operations across Wisconsin (including Wisconsin Dells and Madison). Comparable regional tribal gaming-resort model serving the Upper Midwest customer base, though in a different state.

Direct peers

• Canterbury Park: Minnesota's only other commercial horse racing track, located in Shakopee. Operates a card room alongside live Thoroughbred racing and simulcast wagering — the closest structural analog to Running Aces' racetrack-plus-card-room model in the Twin Cities market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/runaces
• Facebookfacebook.com/RunAces
• Instagraminstagram.com/runaces

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Running Aces Casino & Racetrack