Missouri Casino Proposal Approved for November Ballot

COLLE COUNTY, Mo. — A significant development in Missouri’s gaming industry has emerged as a proposal to establish a casino on the Osage River near the Lake of the Ozarks has been cleared for inclusion on the November ballot. The move follows a ruling by a Cole County judge on Friday, setting the stage for voters to decide on the initiative in the upcoming election.

Initially, the casino proposal, spearheaded by Osage River Gaming and Convention, faced a hurdle when it was deemed short by 2,031 signatures in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. However, the campaign successfully addressed this shortfall by validating an additional 2,230 signatures. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office recognized the legitimacy of these extra signatures during a hearing overseen by Judge Daniel Green.

Chuck Hatfield, the attorney representing the campaign, acknowledged the complexities of the process, describing signature verification as “a massive, messy process that does not always produce perfect results,” according to a report by the Missouri Independent.

Scheduled to appear as Amendment 5 on the November 5 ballot, the casino proposal will compete alongside Amendment 2, which seeks to legalize sports betting in the state. The initiative aims to introduce a competitive gaming facility in response to plans by the Osage Nation to establish a casino in the same vicinity.

“Today is a victory for the initiative petition process and for voters who will benefit from our proposed development at the Lake of the Ozarks,” the committee behind the casino project stated following the judge’s decision.

 

Constitutional and Legislative Challenges

The proposed amendment seeks to modify the Missouri Constitution to permit the establishment of a casino along the Osage River, extending from Bagnell Dam to its confluence with the Missouri River. This initiative challenges the existing state constitution, which currently restricts casino locations to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Additionally, it aims to override a 2008 state law that caps the number of licensed casinos in Missouri at 13—a limitation originally established by casino operators.

Financial backing for the casino project comes from Bally’s, which operates a riverboat casino in Kansas City, and RIS Inc., a prominent regional developer. Each entity has contributed approximately half of the $4.3 million raised for the initiative. The proposed casino is projected to create over 700 new jobs in the Lake of the Ozarks area and generate substantial revenue, including an estimated $2.1 million annually from admission and other fees, and $14.3 million in annual gaming taxes.

This expansion aligns with a broader strategy to bolster Missouri’s status as a premier tourist destination. By situating the casino near one of the state’s largest tourism hubs, the Lake of the Ozarks, the initiative is expected to enhance local economies through increased visitor traffic and related spending in hospitality and retail sectors. This development aims to further establish Missouri’s reputation as a vibrant and diverse entertainment landscape.

 

Today is a victory for the initiative petition process and for voters who will benefit from our proposed development at the Lake of the Ozarks.

 

The Future

As voters prepare to head to the polls on November 5, the outcome of Amendment 5 will have significant implications for Missouri’s gaming industry and economic landscape. The proposal’s success could pave the way for expanded gaming options and additional investments in the region, shaping the future of tourism and local development around the Osage River.