In a recent executive session, the Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee voted 10-4 in favor of House Joint Resolution 23, which would allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to grant a license for a casino on the Osage River.
A voter referendum would be required to pass a constitutional amendment allowing a 14th casino in the state. Under current state law, they all are located on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The measure now will go to the House Rules Committee.
State Rep. Jeff Knight, the bill’s sponsor, told KOMU, “The key goal was to make sure the people of Missouri got to vote. It would actually change the constitution as far as licensing goes. It adds a license for a portion of the Osage River. If you’re going to change the constitution, it has to go to a vote of the people.”
Meanwhile, the Osage Nation has plans to develop a tribal casino on the Osage River. In fact, Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise Board Chief Executive Officer Kimberley Pearson said the tribe already has purchased and is clearing land for development.
Knight said, “The main difference is what the people would be voting on would be a casino on the Osage portion that would actually generate tax revenue to the state. The Osage development would not pay into the state taxes” as Native American tribes are not subject to state law.
State Rep. Ashley Aune voted against Knight’s bill. She explained to KOMU, “I’m very much concerned that we are trying to preempt an indigenous community from setting up shop in our state. I’m not going to be in support of that. While I do support gaming in our state, this is just not a way to go about it in my opinion.” She added business owners are concerned the Osage casino would cannibalize a commercial casino in the area.
Aune said, “It seems to me like colonizers don’t like to be colonized themselves. I don’t think this is the right way to go about setting up a new casino in a different part of our state.”
