Missourians will be asked Nov. 5 to vote on Amendment 5 to the state constitution, which asks if a casino should be allowed to operate on the Osage River near the Bagnell Dam at Lake of the Ozarks.Historically, casino gambling has been restricted to just two rivers in Missouri: the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.By approving the amendment, a citizen-initiated ballot measure, Bally’s, which operates a casino in Kansas City, would be allowed to build a new casino, entertainment center, hotel and restaurants on the Osage River.Osage Nation, in a bid separate from the parameters of this amendment, is also working to build a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks. Osage Nation would need to coordinate with the federal government and gain clearance from the Missouri governor to open the casino.According to the Missouri Secretary of State website, if Amendment 5 were approved, state revenue from the gambling boat license would benefit public schools’ early childhood literacy programs.State governmental entities estimate that the amendment would result in $14.3 million in annual gaming tax revenue.The main backers of the proposal are the Osage River Gaming and Convention Committee, and in the past, the Osage Nation had strongly opposed the proposal.The official ballot language reads:“Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:■ allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat license to operate on the portion of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam;■ require the prescribed location shall include artificial spaces that contain water and are within 500 feet of the 100-year base flood elevation as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and■ require all state revenues derived from the issuance of the gambling boat license shall be appropriated to early-childhood literacy programs in public institutions of elementary education?State governmental entities estimate one-time costs of $763,000, ongoing costs of $2.2 million annually, initial fee revenue of $271,000, ongoing admission and other fee revenue of $2.1 million annually, and annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.”
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