Published on: November 7, 2025, 11:11h.
Updated on: November 7, 2025, 11:11h.
- The Osage Nation is collaborating with Lake Ozark officials on its casino initiative
- The aim is for the tribal casino to provide mutual benefits
- Federal approval is still pending for the $100 million project
The Osage Nation is in the process of obtaining federal approval to establish a $100 million Indian casino on property it owns at the northeastern corner of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway.
The Osage Nation claims historical connections to Lake Ozark and believes that the roughly 29 acres acquired in 2021 should be placed in federal trust. This land includes the site of a former Quality Inn that was demolished in 2022.
The tribe from Oklahoma is advancing its application to place the land into trust with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a process that has faced delays due to the federal government shutdown. In August, the Osage Nation submitted an Environmental Assessment (EA) for its Osage Casino Lake of the Ozarks project.
The EA is vital for the federal government to agree to take the newly acquired tribal lands into trust. Tribes need to prove that their plans won’t adversely affect the local community or the environment.
Collaborating Locally
Missouri has existing riverboat casinos along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Last year, voters declined a referendum that would have allowed the Osage River to host a 14th riverboat license, which would have enabled Bally’s to build a casino resort near the Lake of the Ozarks sign at Highway 54 and Route 242.
Officials in Lake Ozark express that their collaboration with the Osage Nation is not an endorsement for casino gambling but rather a strategy to ensure the region reaps the rewards of the development if the federal government consents. Recently, Ozark Aldermen announced a preliminary agreement between the city and the tribe.
The city has proposed a revenue-sharing framework consisting of 2.5% of the casino’s gross gaming revenue, 1% of hotel room income, and an annual $100,000 contribution to the Lake Ozark Police Department. Total projected benefits are nearly $2 million per year.
“They’ll be utilizing our water and sewer systems, roads, and police services,” stated Lake Ozark Mayor David Ridgely. “They’ve been excellent partners throughout this process.”
Ridgely emphasized that the city’s collaboration with the tribe aims to ensure “the City of Lake Ozark benefits from this development.”
Community Advantages
Missouri does not enter into Class III gaming compacts, meaning the proposed Osage Ozarks casino would not include live dealer table games, sports betting, or conventional slot machines. Instead, the tribal casino is expected to feature around 750 electronic bingo machines, compliant with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Tribal gaming under federal law is not obliged to share revenue with state or local governments. Nonetheless, Osage leaders express their intention for the development to provide advantages to the entire Lake Ozark community.
“This entertainment complex will significantly enhance the tourism landscape of the Lake area, creating jobs and economic prospects, while serving as a new revenue source for local and state taxes,” the tribe proclaimed. They have also promised to make “philanthropic donations” to schools, emergency services, local charities, and community enhancement initiatives.
The Osage Ozarks development plan includes a 40,000-square-foot casino, a 150-room hotel, 6,000 square feet of meeting spaces, and multiple restaurants and bars.