The Osage River Gaming and Conventions (ORGC) group has revived its campaign to establish a casino along the Osage River near Lake Ozark, Missouri.
At the center of the plan is the Lake Ozark Casino, a project led by the Osage Nation. The proposal outlines a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor, a 150-room hotel, multiple dining venues, and modern meeting facilities designed to attract both tourists and business travelers.
Currently, Missouri has no tribal-operated casinos. In addition to the ORGC initiative, the Osage Nation is pursuing approval for a separate tribal casino on reservation land it acquired in Lake Ozark, signaling a broader push to expand gaming opportunities in the state.
A Second Attempt After a Setback
ORGC’s first push came in 2024 with Amendment 5, a ballot measure that sought to expand Missouri’s casino footprint beyond the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The first proposal was partnered with Bally’s Corporation and sought an additional state license to be awarded for the Osage River.
Despite heavy campaigning and financing, voters rejected the proposal by a slim margin — 52.5% opposed. Investor Andy Prewitt says the group has since learned from that defeat and is preparing a revised amendment that addresses voter concerns.
Local and State-Level Challenges
The plan has recently regained support from Miller County officials and will soon be presented to the Lake Ozark City Council. If approved, petition drives could begin before year-end.
Still, the effort faces hurdles:
- Lawmakers are considering Initiative Petition Reform, which could raise the bar for constitutional amendments and limit casino expansion.
- Missouri’s current law restricts casinos to riverboats on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. ORGC’s proposal would carve out an exception for the Osage River, with tax proceeds earmarked for early childhood education programs.
Other Missouri Casinos
There are 13 casinos in Missouri, all of which are technically gambling boats on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Initially, all casinos were operating on actual ships, but today most are floating casinos built on permanent foundations over the water.
In addition to domestic gambling boat casinos, Missouri players also have access to legitimate online casinos operating from outside of the United States. While the state has authorized domestic online sports betting, no casino legislation has been passed to allow domestic casinos to operate online.