Over 320,000 Missourian voters have signed a petition seeking to greenlight a casino at Lake of the Ozarks. After four consecutive failures to get the casino question on the ballot, the matter may finally be put to voters.

For context, the Missouri constitution only allows casinos to be constructed near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. This means that the people of the state must vote in favor of a constitutional amendment in order to expand the list of waterways that allow gaming.  

The signatures will now be verified by the state. For reference, the number of certified signatures needed to get the matter to the ballot is approximately 173,000.

If the Lake of the Ozarks casino secures the Missourian voters’ approval, the state will get a new resort featuring a hotel, casino, spa, restaurants, shops and a convention center, among other facilities. This is a significant departure from the traditional riverboat model other casinos in the model still use.

While Missouri legally defines casinos as “excursion gambling boats,” it interprets this term rather broadly and, in 2021, amended the definition to include “nonfloating facilities.” Casinos can also be on the shore, as long as they are within 1,000 feet of the Missouri or Mississippi River and have at least 2,000 gallons of water inside or underneath the facility in rigid or semi-rigid containers, tanks or structures.

The Project Will Provide Benefits to the Local Economy  

The Lake of the Ozarks casino question is being promoted by the Osage River Gaming & Conventions (ORGC) investor group. The group, which turned to polling after failing to get the casino matter to appear on the ballot previously, is optimistic about its momentum.

The organization pointed out that the project will generate significant benefits for the local economy. For example, tax revenue from the project will provide local schools with a significant boost. Local revenue, on the other hand, will fuel a variety of public services, including infrastructural upgrades.

Additionally, proponents expect the Lake of the Ozarks casino to bolster tourism. The 20-acre property’s facilities will provide a variety of entertainment options to gaming and non-gaming visitors alike.

The new property will be run by Bally’s Corporation and will create between 700 and 800 permanent jobs.

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The ongoing battle over the future of smoking in Atlantic City’s casinos continues with a major victory for the proponents of the controversial smoking ban. However, the war is yet to be won.

The latest development saw an anti-casino smoking measure move forward after three years of intense discussions between pro-smoking and anti-smoking activists. The bill was now approved by the New Jersey Senate health committee, sparking hopes among the latter camp.

Following the advancement of the anti-casino smoking bill, a confrontation between the two camps erupted. People screamed at one another as anti-smoking activists rejoiced.

For reference, Atlantic City’s nine casinos can currently turn up to 25% of their gaming area into a smoking area. However, this means that employees responsible for that area must breathe cigarette smoke all shift long, exposing them to a variety of health problems.

Casino operators fear introducing a smoking ban as it may impact their business. Some believe that patrons who go outside to have a smoke may decide to call it a day. Others fear that fervent smokers will simply go to play in Philadelphia.

Because of that, operators have long been seeking a compromise, such as smoking rooms. However, this would still require employees to man said rooms.

In any case, the bill will now go to the Senate for a vote. In order for the measure to pass, an identical bill must also be approved by an Assembly committee and voted upon by the full chamber. Finally, it would be up to Governor Phil Murphy to sign the measure into law.

The Industry Says the Ban Would Be an “Economic Catastrophe”

Casino industry supporters conceded that smoking is harmful but warned that a smoking ban may, at the very least, lead to layoffs. Donna DeCaprio, president of the Local 54 of the Unite Here union, a group representing hospitality staff, warned that as many as 3,000 of the 50,000 casino jobs in the city could disappear.

DeCaprio also predicts the potential closure of three of Atlantic City’s casinos, saying that a total ban on smoking is going to result in an “economic catastrophe.”

However, Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, pointed out that, according to polls, more people would be inclined to visit the city’s casinos. In addition, previous surveys have found no proof that a ban on smoking would hurt casino operators’ business.

Senator Shirley Turner, on the other hand, was firm that Americans shouldn’t be forced to choose between their job or their health.

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Atari’s Las Vegas hotel might become a reality this year, according to reports. The planned Las Vegas property was first proposed in 2020 and will be one of the first locations for what Atari hopes to become a chain of branded hotels.

GSD Group, the company behind the Atari-branded hotels project, provided renderings of the Las Vegas back in 2020, announcing that the property will sport some 400 rooms and will occupy a 5-to-7-acre site near the famed Las Vegas Strip.

The group originally hoped to open the hotel by the end of 2022. However, these plans never came to fruition and, since the release of the initial renderings, the developer has been more or less silent on the matter.

However, an Atari-branded hotel might be on the table for 2024, it seems. The Las Vegas Review-Journal just spoke with an Atari Hotels spokesperson who teased that the developer is currently on the lookout for a suitable 5-to-7-acre site near the Strip. In an email, the spokesperson told the news outlet that the matter is currently being discussed with partners.

In the meantime, the website for the Atari-branded hotel project also remains live, teasing at the possibility of such a property becoming a reality very soon. More news will likely be shared in the first half of the year.

Atari Wants to Build Hotels in a Number of US Cities

Atari’s plan for a chain of hotels also includes plans for properties in seven other cities across the United States. The company already has renderings for some of these properties, although the COVID pandemic prevented it from proceeding with any of them.

The company’s goal is to launch a trend-setting chain of modern hotels offering unparalleled hospitality experiences inspired by video gaming culture. While Atari never quite managed to catch up to its video gaming competitors, such as Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, the company still holds a special place in the hearts of many people who grew up with its games.

The plans for a chain of hotels demonstrate Atari’s desire to expand into other sectors while maintaining its fondness for video gaming.

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