Missouri residents must decide whether to allow a Lake of the Ozarks casino license

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Missouri voters will soon decide whether to add a new casino license, specifically to build a casino at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Lake of the Ozarks is a popular tourist destination, but this time of year, when the air is chilly, it looks like a ghost town. Proponents of Amendment 5 said there was something that could help: a casino.

A “yes” vote on Amendment 5 would allow for a 14th casino license in Missouri; The state constitution currently only allows 13. Additionally, the constitution would be amended to allow the casino to be built on the lake, as casinos can currently only be built along rivers.

Yes on 5 spokesman John Hancock tells me the addition of a casino would lead to year-round tourism in the Lake District.

“The local Lake of the Ozarks community needs the voice of the people of Missouri to receive the economic development it so desperately needs,” Hancock said.

Bally's, the group supporting this amendment, already has a model of the casino they want to build. They want to build it on a portion of Highway 54 that is currently just a quarry. It would include a 300-room hotel.

However, even if Amendment 5 passes, Bally's is not guaranteed to receive the new casino license. The state would go through the normal bidding process before awarding the license.

Although the Lake Ozark City Council has expressed support for the amendment, the Missouri Gaming Association opposes it, saying voters have spoken out on the issue 30 years ago.

The association said in a statement: “The Missouri Gaming Association has made efforts to limit the number of casinos in the state. We do not support opening up casino gambling to another waterway, nor do we believe the Missouri Constitution needs to be amended regarding gambling issues.”

If Amendment 5 passes, it is expected to bring $2 million to the Lake Region each year and contribute $14 million in tax revenue for early childhood literacy.

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