History of Casinos in Branson
The issue of bringing gambling casinos to Branson has sparked heated debate among local residents in recent years. In 2004, the Southwest Casino and Hotel Corporation funded a petition to bring a casino to nearby Rockaway Beach, Missouri. However, Missouri voters quickly voted down the amendment. In 2008, the passage of Proposition A on a statewide ballot further decreased the odds of a future gambling casino in or around Branson by restricting the number of Missouri casinos to those already built. While the state constitution could still technically be changed to allow for gambling elsewhere in Missouri, it remains unlikely that voters in St. Louis and Kansas City would risk diverting local casino profits by approving such an amendment.
Nearby Casinos
If you still want to take your chances at Missouri slots, you'll need to travel to either the west or east side of the Show-Me state. Kansas City boasts big names such as the Ameristar, Harrah's and the Argosy. St. Louis boasts the same casino chains, plus other big players that are much better situated in the downtown part of the city near the Mississippi River. Gamblers can also try their luck at casinos operated by the Cherokee Indian tribe in nearby Tulsa, Oklahoma. But no matter which direction you head, it's still a 3 to 4 hour drive away.
Other Entertainment Options
The good news is that Branson can still adequately entertain even the most hard core casino gamblers. With historic theme parks such as Silver Dollar City and big name country music concerts at the Grand Palace, you'll soon forget that you came to Branson in order to gamble in the first place. Of course, if you absolutely must gamble, you can always play the state-controlled Missouri Lottery or have some fun at a local bingo hall, which is the oldest form of legalized gambling in the state.
