Ozarks Casino Supporters Prepare $20 Million Effort for 2026 Ballot Initiative
Background on the Lake of the Ozarks Casino Proposal
Supporters looking to establish a state-operated casino near the Lake of the Ozarks are gearing up for a renewed statewide campaign following last year’s rejection by Missouri voters. The group behind this effort believes they have learned from past errors and are investing significantly more resources with a fresh strategy to gain approval in 2026.
Reflection on the 2024 Vote and Strategy Adjustments
In 2024, a constitutional amendment proposed to allow a casino near the Osage River was narrowly defeated, with just over 52% voting against it. The backers do not interpret this as a rejection of the casino concept itself, but rather attribute the loss to ineffective communication and insufficient outreach. Additionally, opposition from existing gambling entities, which viewed the new casino as competition, played a role in the campaign’s defeat.
The organization, now called Lake of the Ozarks Community Gaming, has engaged local officials to outline their renewed plan. A key insight they identified was voter confusion, with many erroneously associating the proposal with tribal gaming efforts. Their next campaign aims to clearly define ownership, the purpose of the casino, and how the project will benefit the local economy.
One major change for the 2026 campaign is a substantial increase in spending, with around $20 million allocated toward advertising and voter engagement — nearly quadruple the prior budget. Previously, limited resources restricted efforts to mailers and brief TV advertisements, resulting in many areas missing the campaign’s message entirely.
Improved Campaign Timing and Industry Cooperation
Timing challenges also hindered the previous initiative. Legal disputes and verification delays caused advertising to start late in 2024, leaving roughly two months to reach voters before the election. This time, the team plans to launch petition drives earlier and avoid clashing with other high-profile ballot questions. They are confident they can collect the necessary 200,000 valid signatures by mid-May 2026 to secure a spot on the ballot.
A significant shift in approach involves managing casino industry politics. In the last effort, when a major casino company backed the proposal, rival gambling businesses funded opposition ads that swayed voter opinion. For the upcoming campaign, the group is striving to unify the industry by encouraging all key players to either support the initiative or remain neutral, discouraging any negative advertising campaigns.
Projected Economic Benefits for the Community
If approved, the casino is expected to generate at least $100 million in annual revenue. The backers anticipate this would translate into approximately $4 million a year in tax revenue for the city of Lake Ozark and about $1 million for Miller County. These projected economic benefits are a central part of their message to voters in the next campaign cycle.
