LAKE OZARK, MO – Last November, voters in Missouri turned down a measure that would have allowed a new Bally’s Casino to be built near the banks of the Osage River. However, the Lake of the Ozarks area could still end up with a casino as plans for a different one continue to move forward.
A Draft Environmental Assessment has been released for a new casino and high-rise hotel by the Osage Nation. Because it would be constructed on land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), it would not be subject to approval by state voters. However, it would need to be approved by the BIA and signed off on by the state governor.
While the new report isn’t in itself a green light for the tribe to begin the project, its release is a substantial step toward starting construction. It’s also a confirmation that the proposed casino is still moving forward after months of no new public announcements from the tribe.
Osage Nation
The proposed Osage casino was in the works before the failed Bally’s plan was announced. It would be built on 28 acres of tribal-owned land at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway. The site was most recently home to a Quality Inn hotel, which was demolished, and the land has since been cleared.
Due to the land being under the jurisdiction of the tribe, an Osage casino would not be subject to the current state laws, which limit casinos to areas near the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
The Draft Environmental Assessment provides detailed information on how the plan would impact the land, traffic, utilities, and emergency response. It also highlighted the potential economic impact.
The report listed three alternatives, which were studied. The first includes a full casino and hotel. The second option includes just a casino without an attached hotel, while the third option entails a hotel only without a casino. The casino-hotel proposal was the preferred option, followed by the casino-only plan.
The filing sheds light on what the casino-hotel would look like and the economic benefits.
According to the report, plans call for a $167-million, 3-star level 15-story hotel tower with 150 rooms, 2 food and beverage areas, a gift shop, meeting/convention space, and a fitness center. The casino area of the facility would include a 40,000 square foot gaming area with 750 gaming devices.
As for the economic impact, the report states that in its first three years of operation, the casino-hotel would generate $64.2-million in gaming revenue, $6.5 million in hotel revenue, $7-million in food and beverage revenue, and $2.1-million in other revenue.
Image courtesy Osage Nation
In the past, the Osage Nation stated its casino, hotel, and convention center would generate between $60 million and $100-million in investment in the region. That income, the tribe says, would result in new jobs, tourism, and economic benefits for the Lake of the Ozarks area.
The potential economic benefits of an Osage casino would be different from what was touted with the Amendment 5 Bally’s plan.
The Amendment 5 ballot language stated that annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million would be generated for the state. The ballot measures promised, “All state revenue derived from the issuance of the gambling boat license shall be appropriated to early childhood literacy programs in public institutions of elementary education.”
However, since the Osage is a sovereign nation, there are no stipulations tied to how its casino revenue is spent. In addition, the venue will not have to pay federal taxes or state sales taxes as would be required of a privately operated gaming center.
On its website, the Osage Nation says it uses revenues from its other casinos to fund tribal government, programs, and economic development, and provide for the welfare of its members, support charitable organizations.
The Draft Environmental Assessment explains that the report is an analysis of the environmental effects and it’s not in itself a decision or proceed with an action. There will now be a 30-day appeal period. After that, the BIA can make a decision, and the action may be implemented.
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