The City of Lake Ozark is gearing up for two potential casino initiatives as local authorities, stakeholders, and the Osage Tribe push forward plans that could transform gaming in central Missouri.
On Wednesday, the Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen will vote on an agreement with Osage Casinos regarding a proposed $60 million entertainment and gaming complex along Bagnell Dam Boulevard. This project, announced last year by the Osage Nation, is part of a phased development that will include a casino, hotel, conference spaces, and an event venue.
If approved, the Osage Nation will contribute 2.5% of its gaming revenue and a 1% resort fee from hotel transactions to the city, with payments made quarterly to bolster local government initiatives.
Phase 1 will involve the construction of a casino, sports bar, restaurant, hotel, and facilities like a fitness center, pool, and poolside bar. Future phases aim to enhance gaming, dining, and meeting space offerings. Construction is anticipated to initiate pending approval from the US Department of the Interior.
As part of this agreement, the Osage Nation will designate the land to federal trust status, while the city will maintain service provisions, including water, sewer, and law enforcement. The tribe is expected to allocate $100,000 annually to the city for police services, though the Osage Nation Police Department will have primary jurisdiction.
The city will oversee traffic and road enhancements around the property, with Osage Casinos responsible for infrastructure development on-site.
Simultaneously, an investment group known as Osage River Gaming and Conventions (ORGC) is reviving efforts to launch a second casino location near the Osage River along Highway 54. They plan to reintroduce a ballot initiative after a prior attempt, Amendment 5, was unsuccessful in the 2024 general elections.
“Yes, we are reassembling our team,” investor Andy Prewitt stated to LakeExpo, confirming the group’s intention to gather signatures following a presentation to the Lake Ozark City Council on November 12.
In 2024, Missouri voters rejected Amendment 5 by a close margin of 52.5% to 47.5%. This proposal aimed to modify the state constitution to allow the establishment of a casino downstream from Bagnell Dam and introduce an additional gaming license allocated for the Osage River. It also sought to direct state tax proceeds from the casino toward early childhood education efforts.
“Almost every significant initiative that gained approval did so after multiple attempts at the ballot,” remarked ORGC member Tim Hand, reflecting on the political landscape in Missouri.
The new proposal will again aim to amend the state constitution, which presently permits casino operations solely along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. However, the group faces an increasingly narrow timeframe: the Missouri legislature is considering a bill that would raise the threshold for future constitutional amendments, potentially complicating ORGC’s efforts after 2026.
If both initiatives move forward, Lake Ozark could host two distinct casino operations — one under tribal authority and another privately funded — in a locality historically resistant to casino expansion. In the recent 2024 referendum, all three nearby counties — Camden, Miller, and Morgan — opposed the proposed amendment, with dissent peaking at 59.4% in Miller County.
Both initiatives are currently awaiting local decisions before progressing to their next phases. The Board of Aldermen will assess the Osage Nation’s proposal on Wednesday, while ORGC is seeking city leadership approval next week to commence its new signature drive.