Referendum set to determine town's stand on gambling

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Mo. -- Chuck Walters has big dreams of this tiny southwest Missouri river town one day having a gambling boat filled with people playing slot machines, roulette and cards.

It was that dream -- which he shares with city alderman Denny Howard -- that led to a non-binding referendum being put on the Nov. 6 ballot to determine whether Rockaway Beach city officials should pursue state legislation to allow excursion a gambling boat on the White River. The river makes up what is commonly known as Lake Taneycomo.

Walters, who owns Rockaway Beach Marina, and Howard, who owns a resort and restaurant, see it as a chance to revive the once bustling town that courted anglers and vacationers.

"My business has dropped off 20 percent for each of the last three years," Walters said. "We have got to do something if we are going to save this town."

Indeed, small Taney County towns such as Rockaway Beach declined in the 1990s, while Branson -- nine miles to the west -- boomed with theaters, shopping malls, restaurants and hotels.

Walters said he recently was forced to turn his six rental units into apartments for Branson workers. Howard did the same with his 20 units at Green Mountain Lodge.

The two were brainstorming business ideas when they decided to float the idea of a casino riverboat.

"To me, it's not a gambling issue. It's a business issue," Walters said. "There are too many people who have to go outside of Rockaway Beach to find work."

Informal petition

Walters and Howard are confident the referendum will garner the necessary simple majority support from the town's 436 registered voters. An informal petition to put the issue on the ballot got 370 "yes" signatures and 10 "no" signatures. They plan to hold a public meeting Monday night at the town's community center to address lingering concerns.

But the next step is where the pair worry they will come up snake eyes.

The 1994 constitutional amendment passed by Missourians only allows slot machines and other games of chance on boats on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, said Kevin Mullally, director of the Missouri Gaming Commission.

The Missouri Legislature has shunned recent efforts to expand the gambling industry.