Overview
The Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino Resort is a planned Class II gaming and hotel destination proposed for Lake Ozark, Missouri. The project has completed all local approvals and now awaits final federal trust authorization from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Once approved, the Osage Nation intends to begin construction immediately, including the potential launch of a temporary casino during resort development.
Location
The future resort site is located near Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway in Lake Ozark, MO. The property spans approximately 28 acres and is positioned to serve the Lake of the Ozarks tourism corridor.
Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway
Lake Ozark, Miller County, Missouri
Proposed site for the Osage Nation Lake Ozark Hotel Casino
Project Plans
The preferred development plan includes:
- Total building size 237,160 sq ft
- 40,000 sq ft Class II gaming floor
- 750 Class II gaming machines
- 150-room hotel tower
- Meeting and event space
- Pool, fitness center, and resort amenities
- Five Restaurants
- Entertainment venues
Missouri does not have a tribal-state gaming compact, so the resort will operate under Class II gaming regulations as permitted by federal law.
Renderings
The Osage Nation released these renderings of the casino resort planned for Lake Ozark, Missouri.
Meeting and Banquet Room
Event Center
Hotel Suite with View of Lake of the Ozarks
Current Status
As of mid-2026, all municipal agreements between the Osage Nation and the City of Lake Ozark have been fully executed. These include revenue-sharing terms, a hotel resort fee, water and sewer service agreements, and infrastructure coordination.
The project is now awaiting final federal trust approval. The Bureau of Indian Affairs released the Draft Environmental Assessment in 2025, and the trust decision is the final step required before construction can begin.
City officials have stated the Osage Nation may open a temporary gaming facility immediately after federal approval while the full resort is built.
Future Development
Once federal approval is granted, the Osage Nation is expected to announce a groundbreaking date, updated construction timeline, and additional project renderings. The Lake Ozark Casino Resort is anticipated to become a major tourism and economic development anchor for the region, generating new jobs and year-round entertainment.
Timeline
CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE
Construction will begin after approval by the U.S. department of Interior. The approval is expected in 2023. Construction will take 18-24 months and be completed in phases
PHASE 1 CONSTRUCTION
- Casino
- Sports Bar
- Restaurants
- Meeting space
PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION
- Hotel - guest rooms and suites
- Fitness and exercise center
- Pool and hot tub
- Pool Bar
FUTURE PHASES - TBA
Tribe
The Lake Ozark Casino Resort is a planned project of the Osage Nation, which is headquartered in Pawhuska, Osage County, Oklahoma.
The tribe owns seven casinos in Oklahoma, which are located in Bartlesville, Hominy, Pawhuska, Ponca City, Sand Springs, Skiatook and Tulsa.
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History Milestones
Oct 2021
The Osage Nation announced plans in late October 2021 the build a $100-million casino, hotel and entertainment destination at Lake Ozarks, Missouri. The tribe said it had applied the U.S. Department of Interior for approval under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. That process will take one, two or more years for a decision authorizing Class II casino gaming.
Feb 2022
A demolition contractor was selected to clear the 28-acre building site at Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway.
Fall 2022
The U.S. Department of Interior was preparing an Environmental Impact Study. No updates on the stucy have been publicly released to date.
2023
If all issues reported in the Environmental Impact Study can be resolved, the U.S. Department of Interior could approve the Osage Nation's application as early as 2023-2024. Construction could follow soon afterwards if not delayed by legal challenges.
2024-2025
The Osage Nation continues to wait for a decistion from the federal government.
News - A Chronological Record
2026
Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino Resort Awaits Final Federal Trust Approval Before Construction July 13, 2026 - Osage Nations Lake Ozark Casino Resort has cleared all local approvals and now awaits final federal trust approval before construction ... Read more 
Lake Ozark Casino Resort Plan Moves Forward | Update Feb 2026 February 25, 2026 - The $60 million plan to build an Osage Nation casino near Lake Ozark, Missouri is continuing slowly through the approval process. The most recent step ... Read more 2025
Lake Ozark Casino Resort Status | Update Nov. 2025 November 23, 2025 - The Osage Nation is waiting for approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior to transfer a 28-acre site owned by the tribe into federal trust under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ... Read more Lake Ozark Casino Resort | Awaiting Federal Approval November 11, 2025 - The Osage Nation applied to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) in Oct. 2021 to transfer a 28-acre site owned by the tribe near Lake Ozark, Missouri ... Read more 
Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino Resort Project | Aug. 2025 Update August 8, 2025 - Osage Nation is seeking federal approval to build a $100 million casino resort near Lake Ozark, Missouri, and this week the U.S. Dept. of Interior ... Read more 
Osage Lake of the Ozarks Casino | Feb. 2025 Update February 7, 2025 - The Osage Nation plans to build a $100 million casino, hotel and entertainment complex in Lake Ozark, Missouri. The tribe is currently waiting for federal approval ... Read more 2024
Osage Casino Lake Ozark Project | Sept. 2024 Update September 2, 2024 - Osage Nation issued a press release Friday to update plans for development of a casino, hotel and entertainment complex at Lake Ozark in Miller County, Missouri ... Read more 2023
Osage Nation Casino Lake Ozark Update - Dec. 2023 December 29, 2023 - In June 2023 the City of Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen were evenly split on a resolution to support the Osage casino project. Mayor Dennis Newberry added a no vote to defeat ... Read more 
Lake of the Ozarks Casino Update - June 2023 June 28, 2023 - The Osage Nation's plan to build a casino at Lake Ozark has encountered opposition from the City of Lake Ozark. A resolution to support the casino project received a tie vote in the Board of Aldermen ... Read more 
Osage Casino Lake Ozark Plan: Update Jan. 2023 January 28, 2023 - A public meeting was held for residents of Camden County this week to hear a debate between the benefits and risks of building a casino at Lake of the Ozarks. The Osage Nation have announced plans ... Read more 2022
Osage Casino Lake Ozark Construction Update - June 2022 June 14, 2022 - The Osage Nation purchased a 28-acre site in the City of Lake Ozark, Missouri for the purpose of building a $100 million hotel and casino. The first step towards authorizing the casino is approval by the ... Read more Osage Nation releases first renderinags of Lake of the Ozarks Casino February 22, 2022 - The Osage Nation released these renderings of the casino resort planned for Lake Ozark, Missouri. They include views of the exterior, meeting room, event center, hotel suite with view ... Read more 
Osage Casino Lake Ozark: Update Feb 2022 February 17, 2022 - The Osage Nation plans to build a casino, hotel and entertainment center at Lake Ozark, Missouri and is seeking a demolition contractor to clear a vacant motel and accessory buildings from the 28-acre site. ... Read more 2021
Osage Nation plans Missouri casino hotel at Lake Ozark November 7, 2021 - The Osage Nation announced plans in a press release last week to build a hotel with a casino, restaurants and entertainmnent on a site near Lake Ozark in Miller County, Missouri. ... Read more 
