Ozarks On line casino Referendum Restored, Sports activities Betting Help Falls
A county decide in Missouri has put again a referendum on the Nov. 5 poll that can ask voters statewide to develop playing to the Osage River in Lake Ozark.
The Lake of the Ozarks’ infamous rowdy summer season “Social gathering Cove” might get a bit wilder ought to a on line casino be licensed close to the Bagnell Dam. Missouri voters in November will decide if a resort on line casino is allowed in Lake Ozark. (Picture: Google Maps)
Cole County Choose Daniel Inexperienced right now ordered that Modification 5 be returned to the 2024 Missouri poll. The measure seeks to amend the Missouri Structure to permit the Missouri Gaming Fee to grant a playing boat license for use “on the portion of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam.”
Earlier this month, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) stated the group behind the Ozarks on line casino marketing campaign was a bit of greater than 2,000 signatures quick to maneuver the query to the poll.
Osage River Gaming & Conference introduced a lawsuit on allegations that it had collected sufficient voter assist. Inexperienced was to preside over the trial when Ashcroft knowledgeable the courtroom that his workplace had discovered one other batch of canvassing paperwork that have been validated to place the marketing campaign throughout the brink.
Ozarks On line casino Again in Combine
Osage River Gaming & Conference has proposed constructing a on line casino resort on the southern facet of the Bagnell Dam alongside U.S. 54/Bagnell Dam Blvd. The event’s tentative resort and on line casino administration agency is Bally’s Corp.
In the present day is a victory for the initiative petition course of and for voters who will profit from our proposed growth on the Lake of the Ozarks,” stated Chuck Hatfield, an legal professional representing Osage River Gaming & Conference.
Presently, riverboat gaming within the Present-Me State is restricted to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Modification 5 would additionally override the state’s present restrict of 13 on line casino licenses to 14.
The Osage Nation of Oklahoma can be anticipated to fund the Ozarks on line casino opposition marketing campaign. The federally acknowledged tribe continues to combat for federal permission to construct a tribal on line casino within the Lake of the Ozarks.
The tribe claims to have historic ties to the area however has not but had its land taken into the federal belief. The Osage Nation acquired a former High quality Inn lodge at 3501 Bagnell Dam Blvd. in 2022.
Missouri has not entered into any Class III gaming compacts with federally acknowledged tribes, that means the Osage’s on line casino, until the state authorities modifications course, could be restricted to Class I and II gaming like digital bingo machines.
Sports activities Betting Ballot
The Ozarks on line casino query can be one in every of two gaming issues on the Missouri poll come November.
The opposite will ask state voters to amend the Missouri Structure to permit casinos {and professional} sports activities venues to function retail sports activities betting. Together with in-person sportsbooks, Modification 2 would authorize on-line sports activities betting.
New polling from Saint Louis College and YouGov finds waning assist. Researchers reported that just about 50% of the 900 doubtless Missouri voters surveyed stated they’ll vote “sure” on Modification 2. That’s down from 60% the identical ballot present in March.
The downturn in assist elevated the variety of doubtless voters who stated they weren’t positive.
For all the poll initiatives, there are a good variety of ‘undecided’ voters. Poll language may be complicated to voters. Nevertheless, as campaigns unfold messages like ‘Vote Sure on 2’ or ‘No on 2,’ voters will kind extra concrete opinions,” stated SLU/YouGov Ballot Director Steven Rogers, Ph.D.
Solely a easy majority is required for both gaming referendum to amend the Missouri Structure.
