Supporters of a new casino at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks have taken their fight to the courts. Led by the Osage River and Gaming Convention (ORGC), the group seeks to place their proposal on the November 5 ballot. Although Missouri law currently permits casinos only along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, ORGC aims to change that by gaining voter approval for a new gaming venue on the Lake of the Ozarks.
Signature Shortfall Leads to Legal Action
Last week, the campaign encountered a significant obstacle when Missouri’s secretary of state confirmed that the ORGC had failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Missouri, like many states, requires a specific number of verified signatures before a proposal can be presented to voters. Faced with this setback, the ORGC decided to take legal action.
According to the Associated Press, the ORGC has filed a lawsuit asking the court to override the signature shortfall and place the initiative on the November ballot. The group claims that the verification process was lengthy and prone to errors. They argue that they secured enough valid signatures from voters across Missouri, despite the state’s assessment.
In their statement, the ORGC noted, “Verifying every signature on multiple initiative petitions this summer has been a very long process for election officials and we realize mistakes happen. However, ORGC has always been confident their initiative petition contained a sufficient number of valid signatures from legal voters to qualify for placement on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot and are now asking the Court to do so.”
If the ORGC succeeds, the casino could become a major attraction at the Lake of the Ozarks. The proposed venue aims to offer top-notch gaming and entertainment, potentially becoming a key destination for both tourists and residents. As the court case unfolds, the ORGC remains hopeful that their vision for a new casino will ultimately gain voter approval this fall.
The post Missouri Group Takes Legal Action to Push Lake of the Ozarks Casino Vote appeared first on iGaming.org.