Missouri Casino Backers Sue For November Ballot Spot
Number of verified signatures is in dispute as Bally’s-backed project aims to move forward
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The Osage River Gaming & Convention Committee has filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by Missouri’s secretary of state, seeking to place the committee’s casino initiative on the November ballot. The committee proposes to amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the construction of a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks, a popular tourist destination in the state.
The group argues it gathered sufficient signatures on its initiation petition, despite being told it fell short by 2,031 in one district.
Backed by Bally’s, owner of the Bally’s Casino in Kansas City, and RIS Inc., a major regional developer, the initiative contends that valid signatures were wrongly rejected and seeks judicial intervention to ensure ballot inclusion. Between them, Bally’s and RIS Inc. have bankrolled the cost of the petition drive, which came to a total of $4.1 million.
Over 2,500 signatures verified
The group undertook a process to verify more than 2,500 signatures in the 2nd Congressional District. It already had enough signatures in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th districts.
The group said in a statement announcing the lawsuit, “Verifying every signature on multiple initiative petitions this summer has been a very long process for election officials and we realize mistakes happen. However, (Osage River Gaming & Convention) has always been confident their initiative petition contained a sufficient number of valid signatures from legal voters to qualify for placement on the Nov. 5 general election ballot and are now asking the court to do so.”
According to the Missouri Constitution, new casinos can only be built along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. If the proposal makes it to the November ballot, it will have two major petitions.
The first would be to amend the Missouri Constitution to permit a new casino along the Osage River, positioned between the confluence of the Missouri River and the Bagnell Dam.
The second petition would be to override the current state law on casino license limits, which caps the number of retail casinos in Missouri at 13. The Missouri Gaming Commission enacted this law in 2008 after lobbying from casino operators.
Another gambling measure on the ballot
The group isn’t the only one hoping to amend the state constitution this November. A constitutional amendment to legalize sports wagering received enough signatures to make it on the ballot.
The land-based casino proposal responds to the Osage Nation’s $60 million casino development plan submitted in 2021.
The plan includes a casino, hotel, and convention center and would be anticipated to create 700 to 800 jobs. The casino is projected to produce $2.1 million in annual admission and fee revenue. This money would be split between the Missouri Gaming Commission and the local government. Meanwhile, new gambling tax revenue would be funneled into early childhood literacy programs.
