Bally’s Unveils Lake of the Ozarks Casino Renders
Bally’s Corporation, in partnership with the investor group Osage River Gaming & Convention (ORGC) have unveiled casino renderings as part of their plans to bring a physical casino to the Lake of the Ozarks.
It might sounds like the missing Season 5 of the brilliant Ozark TV show starring Jason Bateman, which centered around building casinos to launder vast amounts of drug money. But this is a real plan, by a proper company. The show even quoted Article 5 that limits the number of casinos in Missouri, and that law needs to change for this casino to happen at all.
This is a major step forward for Bally’s, who already operate 13 major casinos across 10 different states. If the project is approved, the development would also include retail spaces, including a hotel and conference centre. That will bring jobs and helps make a case for the casino.
However, the casino must gain the approval of state voters before construction can begin. It’s also important to note that despite the name, the venue would not actually sit on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. The plans call for the actual site to be constructed near the Osage River in the City of Lake Ozark.
As the casino has not got the green light, this may change if the state voters do not approve the initial plans. Although the plans were only recently unveiled, the actual vote is not scheduled to take place until November 2024. Only if the state voters endorse Amendment 5 will the City of Lake Ozark Board of Alderman be able to vote on the design.
Amendment 5 concerns casino gambling in the state of Missouri. If passed, it would allow commercial casino gambling on the Osage River by overriding a previously established state law that limits casino licences in the area to 13. Although the limit will only be increased by 1 to 14, this may lead to further expansions in the state in future.
The ORGC previously managed to secure over 320,000 signatures in support of the Ozarks casino. Although there is no guarantee that this will transfer into real votes, it is still a promising sign for those who want the venue to go ahead.
Amendment 5 simply needs a majority to pass, making the issue very straightforward. If this happens, it would represent a healthy budget increase for the state of Missouri of an estimated $14.4 million (£10.75 million) annually, which is currently slated to go toward early childhood literacy efforts.
Although the ORGC is fighting for the project to get the go-ahead, it is not without its critics. The Osage Nation acquired a property that would fall within the scope of the proposed complex, and are fighting to have the property taken into trust and deemed sovereign land. Again, this is a case of life imitating art, as landowners refusing to sell and preventing the construction of a new casino were a key plot point in the TV show.
There is no guarantee that the Osage Nation’s mission will work, or even if it’s necessary. Amendment 5 and the future of the Land of the Ozarks casino are not the only gambling issues on the ballot this November. Voters will decide on whether or not Missouri should allow in-person and online betting, which would mark a major milestone for the state.
Missouri is a gambling state, but it has significant restrictions. Bally’s Casino is asking the legislators to relax those rules to attract investment. We’ll find out if that’s worked in November.
