Lake of the Ozarks Casino | 2025 Updates

Osage Nation Awaiting Fed Approval

Nation | Tribe: Osage Nation

OSAGE CASINO | LAKE OF THE OZARKS

City of Lake Ozark, Miller County, Missouri

The Osage Nation plans to build a $60 million hotel complex with casino, restaurants and entertainment center on a 28-acre site near Lake Ozark in Miller County, Missouri. The Osage have ancestral roots to the land and are seeking federal approval from the U.S. Department of Interior to build the casino.

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Artist rendering of Osage Casino Resort at Lake Ozark

Osage Casino | Lake of the Ozarks

In Oct. 2021 the Osage Nation announced plans to build a $60 million casino, hotel and entertainme and entertainment destination. The announcement said the tribe had submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) for approval of a Class II gaming casino near Lake Ozark. Missouri. Class II casinos do not require state approval.

The federal decision process will take one to two yearsor longer to determine if the Osage casino proposal complies with the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

If The Osage application is approved, the DOI will transfer the casino land into federal trust with tribal sovereignty to the land and casino gaming rights that are exempt from Missouri laws and regulations.

The Missouri constitution limits the number of casino licenses to thirteen. A federally-approved Indian gaming casino does not need a state license and does not need state approval if similar gaming is already approved in the state.

2024 Failed Bally's Casino Plan
Election Nov. 5, 2024 - Amendment 5

Voters rejected a state-licensed casino plan proposed at the Lake of the Ozarks. The ballot measure would have authorized a constitutional amendment to increase the number of state commercial casinos from 13 to 14 and allow a Bally's casino to be built near the Osage River and Bagnell Dam, south of U.S. 54. The casino plan included restaurants and a hotel.

Although the commercial casino plan is dead, the Osage plan for a tribal gaming casino is still alive and pending federal approval.

News Headlines

Osage Lake of the Ozarks Casino | Feb. 2025 Update February 7, 2025 - The Osage Nation plans to build a $60 million casino, hotel and entertainment complex in Lake Ozark, Missouri. The tribe is currently waiting for federal approval ... Read more

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

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

Location

The Osage Nation owns 28 acres of land at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway. This is the site of the former Quality Inn Hotel.

Proposed site for the Osage Nation Lake Ozark Hotel Casino

Osage Casino Lake Ozark Renderings

February 22, 2022

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

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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

HISTORY TIMELINE

Oct 2021
The Osage Nation announced plans in late October 2021 the build a $60-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.

Osage Nation Casinos

Osage Nation 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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Features of Osage Casino Lake Ozark

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News Articles

Osage Lake of the Ozarks Casino | Feb. 2025 Update

February 7, 2025

The Osage Nation plans to build a $60 million casino, hotel and entertainment complex in Lake Ozark, Missouri. The tribe is currently waiting for federal approval to proceed with the project. This casino will not require state approval like the recently defeated ballot measure for a state-licensed casino at Lake of the Ozarks.

Approval
The approval process is an extensive review that can take several years before a final decision is reached. The tribe filed a casino application with the U.S. Department of Interior in Oct. 2021 for the Lake Ozark Casino Resort project. The government's decision on whether to approve or reject the casino could come later this year.

Environmental Assessment (EA)
A federal report, Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino Resort Project, was published October 17, 2024 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, an agency within the Department of Interior. The report evaluated the potential environmental impacts of building the casino. The complete Environmental Assessment report can be read here. The public was given an opportunity to review the report and submit inputs during a Scoping Comments Period conducted October 17, 2024 to November 16, 2024.

Next Step
The analysis of public inputs will be used in preparing the next step, which will be an environmental impact study followed by a formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Final Decision
If the Osage Nation Ozark Casino Resort is approved, the Interior Department will transfer the casino site into federal trust for the tribe. The casino site is 27.6 acres at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway. See map.

This federal action gives tribal sovereignty to the land and allows the Osage Nation to build a Class II gaming casino without state or local jurisdiction. Class II is defined as bingo-style gaming where player jackpots are paid from the losses of other players. This is unlike Class III where players bet against a house bank.

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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.

OSAGE CASINO LAKE OZARK
Development plans for a Lake of the Ozarks Casino were first announced in October 2021. The "Osage Casino Lake Ozark" will be a $60 million project to build a casino, hotel, and entertainment center near Lake Ozark.

COMPETITION
The Osage Nation press release coincided with court ruling Friday from a Cole County judge to place a competing Lake of the Ozarks casino proposal on Missouri's November ballot. The ballot proposal will be Amendment 5, and would allow a riverboat casino to operate on the Osage River between Bagnell Dam and the confluence with the Missouri River. This project is financially backed by Bally's.

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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 the measure. Since that time, there has been no updates from the city or the tribe regarding the Osage casino plan.

Then recently, Lake Ozark officials announced support for a commercial casino proposal by Osage River Gaming, which is seeking a 2024 statewide gaming referendum to license a riverboat casino on the Osage River.

All of this has led to uncertainty about the future likelihood of Osage Nation ever building a casino at Lake Ozark.

This month the status of the Osage casino proposal was clarified by City Administrator Harrison Fry, who said the Osage proposal is "anything but dead".

"There was language included in there that, you know, the city is still expected to continue working with the Osage Nation to determine some agreements moving forward on what their project and the partnership looks like long term with them. And I think that both parties, the nation and the city, want to see those relationships be better defined moving forward."

- Harrison Fry, Lake Ozark City Administrator

The City of Lake Ozark appears to be currently working on developing both the Osage Nation casino hotel proposal and the Osage River Gaming riverboat plan.

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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, and was defeated by a no vote from the mayor.

Lake Ozark, Mo., Board of Aldermen discussing future of casino project - Courtesy of KY3 News - Springfield, Mo., Jun 16, 2023. Available from YouTube

Mayor Dennis Newberry explained he was not opposed to the Osage casino, but voted no because he wanted more information regarding the casino project. He called the resolution "convoluted" and wanted it defeated rather than stalled.

The Osage Nation plans to build a $60 million casino complex near Lake Ozark consisting of a casino, hotel, convention center, restaurants, entertainment center, and heritage center.

"Our plan to bring a world-class entertainment district to the Lake of the Ozarks is moving forward as planned, and once completed, will see the Osage Casinos make a $60 million investment in the community."

- Kimberly Pearson, CEO Osage Casinos

The Missouri constitution limits state-issued casino licenses to thirteen, and a constitutional amendment is required for licensing a casino at Lake Ozark. If the licensing process fails, the Osage casino have a major alternative. The Lake of the Ozarks Casino may be approved by the federal government under terms of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

An Indian-gaming casino operates on tribal land with sovereignty over state regulations. Gaming is limited to Class II games where players bet against other players rather than the house. Missouri casinos play Class III games which include Vegas-style slots and table games. The Osage Nation could negotiate a gaming compact with the state to allow Class III gaming at a tribal casino in Lake Ozark.

The Osage Nation filed an application with the U.S. Interior Department in Oct. 2021 to transfer a 28-acre site near Lake Ozark into federal trust for the purpose of operating an Indian-gaming casino. The Osage have strong ancestral ties to much of Missouri including the Lake Ozark area. This is an important consideration for a favorable federal decision. The decision is expected any time within the next year.

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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 to build a casino, hotel and entertainment destination near Lake Ozark.

Potential casino on the Osage River - KRBK 9PM
Courtesy of KOLR10 & Fox49, Jan 18 2023. Available from YouTube

Osage River Gaming is promoting a ballot measure to amend the Missouri constitution and allow a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks. An Osage spokesman, Timothy Hand, said "We are trying to change the Constitution to allow gaming on the Osage right from Bagnell Dam to where it meets the Missouri River in Jefferson City." A ballot measure for the amendment is expected for the 2024 election.

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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 $60 million hotel and casino. The first step towards authorizing the casino is approval by the U.S. Department of Treasury to transfer the land into federal trust for the tribe. That process grants sovereignty for gaming rights on that land to the Osage Nation.

The land-into-trust application is expected to be submitted to the federal government by July. In preparation for submission of the application the tribe has demolished the former Quality Inn & Howard Johnson hotel to clear the land for environment assessments required in the process. The demolition was completed in late April.

If the U.S. Interior Department grants federal trust status for gaming purposes, the land may be used for a Class II gaming casino. However, the Osage Nation plans to seek a Class III gaming compact with the state to allow Vegas-style slot machines and table games.

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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 Quality Inn and accessory buildings from the 28-acre building site. A Request for Proposals was published in the Eldon Advertiser on Jan. 3 with a deadline for proposals to be submitted by Feb. 15.

The site demolition will be a step forward for the Lake Ozark project; however, construction can not start until the federal government has approved the casino. Federal approval is not expected until late this year at the earliest.

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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 entertainment on a site near Lake Ozark in Miller County, Missouri. The Oklahoma tribe will invest $60 million to develop the project on a 28.3-acre parcel of vacant land located at Bagnell Dam Blvd. and U.S. Highway 54.

Osage Nation announces casino plan for the Ozarks - Courtesy of KCTV5 News, . Available from YouTube

The Osage Nation has historical homeland ties to Missouri. These ancestral lands were ceded to the United States in an 1808 treaty.

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2022

News Headlines Continued

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 $60 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