ORGC’s Renewed Effort to Secure Casino Approval in Missouri
Osage River Gaming Revives Their Casino Initiative
A group of private investors known as Osage River Gaming and Conventions (ORGC) is making a renewed push to establish a casino along Missouri’s Osage River. This initiative could lead to direct competition between two casinos in the Lake Ozark area.
After last year’s unsuccessful attempt, ORGC plans to restart the campaign to amend Missouri’s constitution to permit casino operations near Highway 54 by the Osage River. Investor Andy Prewitt shared that the group has regained support from local officials in Miller County and intends to present their proposal to the Lake Ozark City Council shortly. If approved, they aim to collect petition signatures by the end of November.
Previous Efforts and Strategy Updates
In 2024, ORGC invested heavily in promoting Amendment 5, which sought to establish a casino downstream of Bagnell Dam. Despite their efforts, the amendment was narrowly defeated, with 52.5% of voters rejecting it. Prewitt emphasized that the new proposal will be carefully revised rather than a repeat of the previous one. The team is currently developing updated ballot language to submit to the Missouri Secretary of State for approval in the coming weeks.
Overcoming Legal and Legislative Challenges
Investor Tim Hand remarked that persistence is vital, noting that many successful ballot measures in Missouri required multiple attempts before gaining approval. Should ORGC’s proposal reach the 2026 ballot, it would need to navigate additional obstacles from a legislative initiative known as Initiative Petition Reform, which is designed to make amending the state constitution more difficult. If enacted, this reform could limit opportunities to authorize casinos beyond the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Currently, Missouri law permits casino boats on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and restricts the number of gaming licenses available. ORGC’s 2024 plan aimed to expand these provisions by granting a new license for the Osage River location, with tax revenues dedicated to early childhood education.
Community Response and Future Prospects
Although the 2024 measure received support in urban centers like Kansas City and St. Louis, rural counties, particularly in southern Missouri, largely opposed it. Even within the Lake of the Ozarks region, the local counties voted against the casino proposal. Despite these setbacks, ORGC remains hopeful that changing economic conditions and ongoing local discussions will sway public opinion in favor of the casino this time around. If successful, Lake Ozark could become a central stage for one of Missouri’s most closely watched casino debates.
