To The Editor: Osage Casinos CEO Greets The Lake Of The Ozarks Community, Pledges Support

Your readers deserve a complete discussion of the facts concerning Osage Nation plans for a casino and entertainment district at the Lake of the Ozarks – one of the most substantial economic development initiatives for the region in years. This initiative includes a new hotel complex that will feature a casino, restaurants, entertainment and more. Expected to be completed in multiple phases with an estimated $60 million investment in the region, this initiative will bring new jobs, tourism and serve as a new revenue engine for the local and state tax base.

As this newspaper has correctly pointed out, commercial gaming as proposed by the private, for-profit Osage River Gaming is illegal under the Missouri Constitution, and constitutional changes would be required.

Put another way, Osage River Gaming faces long, if any, odds.

The path forward for the Osage Nation casino is quite different. Congress has already authorized the type of gaming we are planning for Osage Beach. No state constitutional amendment is required for the community to enjoy the economic development, tax benefits and support for the Lake Area community our project will bring. Of course, federal review and approval will be necessary for us to open our planned casino. Since many desire for gaming to be available in the Lake Area and since the Osage Nation has a plan to meet that local desire, we would like to introduce the Osage Nation casino to your readers.

Who is the Osage Nation?

The Osage Nation, as recognized by the use of Osage in city, educational and business names, has a strong historical connection to the Lake area. We lived here until the federal government “bought” our land and moved us to Kansas. We then were moved to Oklahoma, where our reservation ultimately constituted the largest county in the United States. We have a constitutional form of government with three branches, and like the United States and Missouri Constitution, our executive and legislative office holders are elected. We enjoy an independent judiciary. We provide educational, health care, housing, and nutritional support for our members. We fund these programs largely with revenues from our federal congressionally authorized tribal gaming operated by our government. Federal law requires that our net gaming revenues are for tribal support, non-tribal government support and charity. We do not distribute gaming revenues to our members as a dividend or per capita payment.

What do we do?

We are not a start-up. We have decades of operational experience. As the owners of tribal governmental gaming, we are not subject to being bought out. We currently operate 7 casinos in Oklahoma, of which 3 are attached to hotels. We employ 1300 people at our casinos, with only 10% being members of the Osage Nation. We pay payroll taxes on those employees, including Social Security, Medicare, and federal and state tax withholding.

Perhaps most important to the Lake of the Ozarks from a tax revenue perspective, on average, 90% of the workforce employed at similar facilities operated by Osage Nation are non-tribal members, creating new employment opportunities and growing tax revenue for the local community.

Our employees, who comprise a dedicated, high quality workforce, enjoy competitive wages and salaries, a bonus program, educational benefits, superior health insurance and a 401(k) plan. We pride ourselves on internal developing and programing managers.

How are we regulated?

Our gaming operations are highly regulated both by tribal and federal gaming regulators. All employees involved with gaming are licensed. Gaming management personnel license applications are reviewed by the federal government. Our casinos are audited by an independent CPA, who is selected by the gaming regulators and the audit reports are provided to the federal and Osage governments. Our gaming ordinances enacted by our Congress and Chief that control our casinos, are expressly approved by the chairman of the federally established National Indian Gaming Commission. Federal law requires us to follow the internal control standards established by the Commission. Our compliance is audited annually. All of our facilities are licensed by the regulators. Significantly, there have been no regulatory issues concerning the operation of our gaming by our federal and tribal regulators.

Our odds and payout rates are reviewed by our regulators and are proven to be more favorable to players than most commercial for-profit gambling operations.

Is the Osage Nation successful?

Not only are we sound from a regulatory basis, but we are on sound financial footing. Osage Casinos have retired $130,000,000 of debt over the last 5 years, in addition funding a cash operating reserve that exceeds existing indebtedness. Unlike a commercial gaming operation, we have no investors that expect a for-profit dividend. The absence of those investors allows us to use our net gaming revenue for tribal programs and supporting the communities in which we operate.

Our plans to support the Lake Area.

We plan on employing 120 local community members. Our jobs should pay between $35,000 and $150,000 per year, with attractive health, retirement, bonus, and educational benefits. Our anticipated payroll of $7 million annually will cause significant spending in the Lake Area.

As we move forward with our plans, we intend to work closely with local law enforcement, utility providers and other service providers on cooperative agreements to pay all of the cost of service to our facility. We look forward to providing significant support to local schools and governmental programs.

Although we were in Missouri long before it was a state, we recognize we are not yet well known today to Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks and its citizens. As the community continues to get to know the Osage Nation and our plans, we encourage you to contact the communities in which we operate. They are strong advocates for our reputation, local contributions, support for law enforcement, and community service. We are confident that you will hear the truth and be comfortable with what we are offering the Lake of the Ozarks.

In addition to supporting local governments, schools and charities, we plan to use revenue from the project to help further meet the educational and health care needs of our members.

Most of all, we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the Lake of the Ozarks.

Byron Bighorse is CEO of Osage Casinos where he leads world-class gaming and entertainment offerings for the organization’s seven properties.

Byron Bighorse

Chief Executive Officer - Osage Casinos