New Casino Effort for Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri Gains Support

    Lake Of The Ozarks In Missouri
    Article by : Erik Gibbs Dec 21, 2023

    In Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, the attempt to introduce a commercial casino has gained traction among local and state authorities. The Miller County Commission, representing the eastern side of the lake, recently provided unanimous support for casino development by approving a resolution.

    This initiative is supported by local businesses and owners known as Osage River Gaming, who are actively advocating for a 2024 statewide gaming referendum. This referendum aims to seek approval from voters to introduce casino gaming in the area.

    The Miller County commissioners want the existing constraints imposed by the Missouri Constitution, which currently confines riverboat operations to the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, to be modified.

    Additionally, the Missouri Gaming Commission is legally restricted to issuing a limited number of casino licenses. The roof has been set at 13 and all of these have already been granted to casino businesses.

    In light of these limitations, the Miller County commissioners are advocating for the state to investigate the feasibility of extending gaming activities to the Ozarks. They are putting forth a proposal that involves contemplating amendments to the state constitution.

    The suggested amendments aim to permit gaming on the Osage and, crucially, to raise the maximum number of state casino permits and at least allow for one more business to join.

    In the ongoing saga of competing casinos in the Ozarks, Osage River Gaming is now looking at the area south of the Osage National Golf Course for a casino site. Teaming up with Bally’s as a partner, Osage River Gaming projects a shared gaming operation.

    In November, the advancement of this proposed venture reached a milestone with the approval of the ballot by the Missouri Secretary of State, permitting casino gaming on the Osage.

    This endorsement sets the stage for the establishment of a 14th gaming concession in Miller County. However, the execution of this plan depends on a voter-initiated ballot referendum which must comply with a minimum of 170,000 signatures from local Missouri residents.

    Simultaneously, the Osage Nation, a tribe in Oklahoma, continues its legal attempt to establish a casino at Lake of the Ozarks.

    Despite not obtaining the approval of Lake Ozark Aldermen in June to support the tribal casino plans, the Osage Nation persists in getting their motion and efforts ratified.

    If this federal approval is granted, the tribe would be authorized to introduce Class I and II. To include Class III games, mirroring Las Vegas-style casino gaming, a different type of agreement would need to be reached with state authorities.