A county judge in Missouri has reinstated a referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot that will inquire of voters across the state whether to broaden gambling to the Osage River in Lake Ozark.
Judge Daniel Green of Cole County today directed that Amendment 5 be reinstated on the 2024 Missouri ballot. The proposal aims to revise the Missouri Constitution to enable the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue a gambling boat license for use “on the section of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam.”
Earlier this month, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) stated that the organization leading the Ozarks casino initiative was slightly over 2,000 signatures short of placing the issue on the ballot.
Osage River Gaming & Convention filed a lawsuit claiming it had gathered sufficient voter backing. Green was scheduled to oversee the trial when Ashcroft notified the court that his office had discovered another set of canvassing documents that were confirmed to push the campaign over the threshold.
Ozarks Casino Returns to Scene
Osage River Gaming & Convention has suggested constructing a casino resort on the southern bank of the Bagnell Dam adjacent to U.S. 54/Bagnell Dam Blvd. The potential resort and casino management company for the development is Bally’s Corp.
"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,” said Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing Osage River Gaming & Convention.
At present, riverboat gambling in the Show-Me State is restricted to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Amendment 5 would additionally raise the state's present cap of 13 casino licenses to 14.
The Osage Nation of Oklahoma is anticipated to finance the campaign opposing the Ozarks casino. The federally recognized tribe persists in seeking federal approval to construct a tribal casino at the Lake of the Ozarks.
The tribe asserts it has historical connections to the area, yet its land has not been placed into federal trust. In 2022, the Osage Nation purchased a previously operated Quality Inn hotel located at 3501 Bagnell Dam Blvd.
Missouri has not established any Class III gaming agreements with federally recognized tribes, indicating that the Osage’s casino, unless state officials alter their stance, would be restricted to Class I and II games such as electronic bingo machines.
Sports Wagering Survey
The Ozarks casino issue will be one of two gaming topics on the Missouri ballot this November.
The other will request Missouri voters to modify the state constitution to permit casinos and professional sports facilities to conduct retail sports betting. In addition to physical sportsbooks, Amendment 2 would permit online sports wagering.
Recent polling conducted by Saint Louis University and YouGov indicates diminishing backing. Researchers stated that almost 50% of the 900 probable Missouri voters polled indicated they will vote “yes” on Amendment 2. That’s a decrease from 60% as reported by the same poll in March.
The decline in support raised the count of probable voters who indicated uncertainty.
"For all of the ballot initiatives, there are a fair number of ‘not sure’ voters. Ballot language can be confusing to voters. However, as campaigns spread messages like ‘Vote Yes on 2’ or ‘No on 2,’ voters will form more concrete opinions,” said SLU/YouGov Poll Director Steven Rogers, Ph.D.
A simple majority is all that is required for either gaming referendum to change the Missouri Constitution.