- Missouri could get a land-based casino for blackjack and other games if people of the state vote in favor of a constitutional amendment.
- More than 320,000 Missouri voters signed a petition that would bring a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks up to a vote, far more than the 171,592 required signatures.
- The casino would provide 500 construction jobs, 800 permanent jobs, and tax revenue that would go towards local schools and infrastructural upgrades.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lake of the Ozarks moves closer towards getting a casino after the Osage River Gaming & Convention committee announced more than 320,000 signatures in favor of the casino. If at least roughly 171,000 of those signatures are verified, it would be up to voter approval to determine if blackjack and other casino games will be available at a casino on the Osage River.
Current Missouri law says casinos can exclusively be built near the Missouri or Mississippi rivers, but voter approval could expand that list with a constitutional amendment. It would also abandon the riverboat casino gambling model, since a 2021 amended definition to the Missouri constitution included “non-floating facilities” to the definition of casinos.
What Are The Benefits Of Potential Land Of The Ozarks Casino?
The most obvious benefit to the potential future casino is another spot to play Missouri blackjack for locals and tourists. However, the economic benefit includes an expected 700-800 jobs for construction and/or casino employees, with state casino revenue directed towards Missouri schools and infrastructural improvements.
More specifically, the funding will support early-childhood literacy programs for public education at local elementary schools. Revenue expectations from the ballot details include $2.1 annually from fees and admission, plus $14.3 million in annual gaming tax revenue for the state.