Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino - 2021-2026 News Archive
Archived news items originally published in 2021-2026.
This page contains archived news updates for Osage Nation Lake Ozark Casino from 2021-2026. These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part of the 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articles in the main News section.
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 forward is two formal agreements between the Osage Nation and the City of Lake Ozark that define city services and infrastructure support for the casino in return for 2.5% of the casino's net earnings. The casino revenue is expected to provide the city with more than $2million per year.
The plans have been accepted by the federal government's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which has issued an official letter of confirmation.
The Osage Nation Casino plan was announced in 2021 and includes a casino, restaurants, an entertainment venue and a hotel on a 28-acre site at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway near Lake Ozark.
In the meantime, the Osage Nation has started construction of a Cultural Center at that site that will open in June 2026.
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 (IGRA). The land is located at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Parkway and Osage Beach Parkway in the City of Lake Ozark.
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Osage Nation advancing plans to build casino at Lake of the Ozarks - Courtesy of FOX 2 St. Louis, Nov 20, 2025. Available from YouTube
The Lake Ozark Casino Resort project continues to move forward as the federal decision remains pending. Last month the casino project passed a major hurdle when the City of Lake Ozark voted to support and approve the casino and formally signed a partnership agreement with the Osage Nation.
Under the city-tribe agreement, the Osage Nation will pay the City of Lake Ozark 2.5% of adjusted gross gaming receipts, a 1% resort fee on hotel rooms, $100,000 per year for police services, funding for a new turn lane on Bagnell Dam Boulevard, and standard rates for water and sewer services.
Since the Osage Nation casino would be authorized and approved under the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the casino would not be under the jurisdiction of the Missouri state or local governments. However, since the casino land is now off-reservation land, the federal approval requires concurrence from the Missouri governor.
There are now only two steps remaining for the final approval of the Lake Ozark Casino Resort: The Department of Interior must grant approval and the Missouri government must agree with that decision.
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, into federal trust for the purpose of building a casino. If approved, the casino site would have legal sovereignty over state and local jurisdictions and qualify for Class II gambling under the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
The Osage application is currently under review inside the DOI. The department published a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in August 2025 and collected public comments in September. A federal decision is expected soon. However, a final approval requires concurrence from the Missouri governor.
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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. Department of Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs) advanced the approval process by releasing a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review.
The federal report (EA) is a study of environmental impact issues and concerns that may result from construction of the casino. The building site would be on 27.6 acres near the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and the Osage Beach Parkway. The project includes a 40,000 square-foot casino, five restaurants and bars, a 150-room hotel with a fitness room, an outdoor pool and spa deck, an 8,000 square-foot convention center, a 435 parking spaces.
Gaming will be Class II rather than Class III. Class II includes bingo-style slot machines and pays jackpots from player pools. Class III includes Vegas-style slots and table games with jackpots paid by the house.
The complete Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) report can be read here.
A public comment period opened July 31, 2025 and will run through September 2, 2025. Individual and interested groups can submit written comments to: Regional Director, BIA, EORO, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402-8002 or submit by email to admin@osagelakeozarkea.com.
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 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.
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 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.
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 $100 million project to build a casino, hotel, and entertainment center near Lake Ozark.
Features Osage Casino Lake Ozark will include a casino, entertainment venue and hotel. The casino will include slot machines, table games, sports bar, and restaurants. The hotel will have a pool and hot tub, pool bar, a fitness center and meeting space. Additional information regarding sizes and amenities has not been disclosed.
Location The proposed casino site is 28-acres of land owned by the Osage Nation in the City of Lake Ozark, MO at the intersection of Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Osage Beach Parkway.
Approval Status Osage Nation is waiting for a decision from the U.S. Department of Interior to approve the casino under terms of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. If approved, the land for the casino will be transferred into federal trust for the tribe. That would allow the casino to operate Class II gaming without state or local jurisdiction. The State of Missouri could negotiate a gaming compact with the tribe to allow Class III gaming in exchange form tax revenues.
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.
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.
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.
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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 $100 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 $100 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 casinosplay 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.
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.
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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.
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 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.
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.
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 $100 million to develop the project on a 28.3-acre parcel of vacant land located at Bagnell Dam Blvd. and U.S. Highway 54.
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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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