A petition advocating for a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks has been signed by over 320,000 Missourian voters. After previous unsuccessful attempts to get the casino proposition on the ballot, the issue may at last be presented to voters.
Notably, Missouri’s constitution currently authorizes the construction of casinos only near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Therefore, in order to expand the acceptable locations to include other bodies of water, a constitutional amendment needs to be ratified by the state’s voters.
The next step involves the verification of these signatures by the state. As a point of reference, the required number of confirmed signatures needed for the issue to be added to the ballot is approximately 173,000.
Should the proposed Lake of the Ozarks casino garner the support of Missourian voters, the state would welcome a new resort complete with a hotel, casino, spa, restaurants, stores and a convention center, among other amenities. This represents a notable shift from the standard ‘riverboat’ approach that is still utilized by other casinos in the state.
While Missouri’s legal stipulations consider casinos as “excursion gambling boats,” this terminology has been interpreted with a certain degree of latitude. In 2021, these definitions were extended to encompass “nonfloating facilities.” Casinos may also be situated on the riverbanks, provided they are within 1,000 feet of the Missouri or Mississippi River and contain a minimum of 2,000 gallons of water inside or underneath the establishment within designated containers or structures.
Significant Economic Benefits Expected from the Project
The proposition of a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks is being spearheaded by the investor group, Osage River Gaming & Conventions (ORGC). ORGC remains optimistic about its progress, having resorted to polling to put forth the casino proposition after earlier unsuccessful attempts.
The group has indicated that the casino project will contribute substantially to the local economy. Specifically, tax revenue from the project will significantly fortify local schools’ budget. Moreover, local revenue will stimulate an array of public services, including improvements to infrastructure.
In addition to economic benefits, supporters claim that the Lake of the Ozarks casino will boost local tourism. The 20-acre property’s array of entertainment offerings are projected to appeal to a wide audience of both gaming enthusiasts and casual tourists.
The proposed establishment is set to be managed by Bally’s Corporation and is expected to generate between 700 and 800 permanent job positions.
