The push for a casino on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri has taken a dramatic twist, as supporters resort to the judicial arena to ensure their proposal makes it to the November ballot. The passionate crusade is spearheaded by the Osage River and Gaming Convention (ORGC).
Missouri’s current legislation allows casinos exclusively along the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, which makes the ORGC’s endeavor a high-stakes game of chance. For the dream of a new casino to come to fruition, the initiative must first secure a spot on the November 5 ballot.
The Struggle for Signatures
Last week, the secretary of state confirmed a setback for the ORGC’s campaign, announcing that it had failed to gather the requisite number of signatures. Missouri, like many other states, mandates a specific tally of signatures for a proposal to even take a seat at the ballot table, where voters will ultimately grant approval or denial.
The ORGC Files a Court Claim
In a desperate roll of the dice, the ORGC has filed a lawsuit, hoping the courts will step in and add the proposal to the November agenda. The Associated Press reported on this bold move, underpinned by the ORGC’s assertion that the verification of signatures via multiple petitions was a gruelling and meticulous process.
The ORGC acknowledged the human element involved, suggesting that the process isn’t foolproof: mistakes happen. Nevertheless, they maintained that they had gathered enough valid signatures from voters statewide to merit inclusion on the upcoming ballot. By turning to the courts, they seek judicial intervention to correct what they view as an oversight.
“Verifying every signature on multiple initiative petitions this summer has been a very long process for election officials, and we realize mistakes happen. However, ORGC has always been confident their initiative petition contained a sufficient number of valid signatures from legal voters to qualify for placement on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot and are now asking the Court to do so,“ reads a statement from the Osage River and Gaming Convention
A Vision for the Lake of the Ozarks
The ORGC’s vision aims to bring more than just a casino to the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks. They foresee a venue that promises premier gaming and entertainment experiences, a veritable jackpot for tourism in Missouri. Think of it as turning the Lake of the Ozarks into a top-tier destination, not just for state residents but for visitors far and wide.
In the gambling world, where fortune favors the bold, the ORGC has thrown their chips on the table, betting big on their belief that they have the support they need. Whether or not the courts will act as their ace in the hole remains to be seen. For now, one thing is certain: the dice are still rolling on this high-stakes bid to bring a new gaming mecca to the heart of Missouri.
