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Read Full BioThe Osage Nation is moving forward with plans to build Missouri’s first tribal casino at the Lake of the Ozarks. Earlier this month, the Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a deal with the Osage Nation to allow the tribe to develop a hotel-casino complex.
The proposed casino would feature a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor, a 150-room hotel, meeting rooms, a fitness center, a pool, and parking facilities. The Osage Nation initially invested $60 million in the development, which has risen to $100 million.
Harrison Fry, the city administrator for Lake Ozark, said, “They are able to do a casino here within the city limits of Lake Ozark.” He added that the agreement “explains very clearly the level of municipal services they would get–police, water, sewer, etc., and then the revenue that the city would get in exchange for those services.”
Under the terms of the agreement, the City of Lake Ozark will receive an annual payment of $100,000 for policing services from the casino development, 2.5% of adjusted gross gaming revenue from the casino, and a 1% resort fee from the hotel component.
Osage Chief, Geoffrey Standing Bear, said, “We look forward to collaborative work with the local community and state of Missouri. We will provide positive economic benefits to the Osage people, as well as those who reside on Osage ancestral lands.”
Final Regulatory Hurdles Remain
Fry said the tribal group still needs approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior and, ultimately, the approval of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. In comments reported by Fox 2 News, he stated, “They are still in their petition process with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to have that 27 acres converted into federal trust land, which would then give them the opportunity to conduct gaming enterprises on the site.”
Even though they still have another hurdle to clear, Fry said things are beginning to pick up.
“Our understanding is the Osage Nation, of course, would like to get this underway as quickly as possible,” he said. “But that federal process, you know, it takes a lot of diligence on their part and from the feds.”
Missouri Expanding Gambling Options
In addition to the proposed Osage Nation casino, plans are underway to develop another casino near Lake Ozark. That plan would require a vote of the people to pass a new constitutional amendment allowing for a 14th casino along the waterway of the lake.
Amendment 5, which would have allowed for one more casino than the current constitutionally mandated number of 13, failed to pass last November by roughly 143,000 votes.
Residents did, however, vote in favor of legalizing online sports betting last year, and at least nine sportsbooks are set to go live on December 1. Missouri projects that sports betting could generate up to $29 million in annual tax revenue.
Missouri’s casinos contribute significantly more, with the current 13 commercial venues paying approximately $450 million last year. While tribal casinos pay a reduced tax rate, the City of Lake Ozark is hopeful the Osage Nation casino will boost the local economy.
After receiving all regulatory approval, construction of the casino is estimated to take 12 to 18 months. It is therefore likely that the casino will open in late 2027 or early 2028.
