Arkansas Casino License for Pope County Repealed During Election Day Referendum

Posted on: November 6, 2024, 02:31h. 

Last updated on: November 6, 2024, 02:38h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Arkansas voters on Election Day amended their 2018 decision to legalize commercial casinos in Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope counties.

Arkansas casino Pope County Russellville
A casino license in Arkansas earmarked for Pope County has been rescinded after state voters passed a gaming referendum during the 2024 presidential election. The Cherokee Nation had hoped to invest $300 million for a casino in Russellville. (Image: CBS 11)

Six years ago, a statewide referendum authorized slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting in the Razorback State. The amendment to the Arkansas Constitution allowed the Southland and Oaklawn racetracks, respectively in Crittenden’s West Memphis and Garland’s Hot Springs, to become full-fledged casinos. A property called Saracen Casino Resort has also since opened in Jefferson’s Pine Bluff.

The Pope County casino license has been tied up in courts for much of the past six years. Legal challenges about how the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) initially reviewed and graded two bids for the license, followed by contentions about whether one of the bids should have been considered in the first place, stalled the gaming concession from being issued for years.

After more than a half-decade of conflicts and setbacks, ARC in June determined that a bid from the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma was the lone qualifier, and the license was subsequently awarded to the tribe. But following Tuesday’s election referendum outcome, the casino license is no longer valid.

Arkansas Voters Back Issue 2

A rival tribe to the Cherokees — the Choctaw Nation — bankrolled a 2024 statewide gaming referendum seeking to repeal the Pope County casino license. In an effort designed to protect its tribal casinos in Eastern Oklahoma, the Choctaws, through its Arkansas political campaign called Local Voters in Charge, poured almost $18 million into a ballot measure titled, “Require Voter Approval for Casino Licenses.”

Issue 2 asked statewide voters to again amend the Arkansas Constitution to only allow ARC to grant casino licenses for projects located in counties where local referendums expressing support for a casino have been held.

“A FOR vote means you are in favor of changing the state constitution to remove the Pope County casino gaming license from the Arkansas Constitution and, should any future amendments authorizing additional casino licenses be approved by a statewide vote, requiring a special election and approval of voters in the county where that casino would be located to approve it,” the ballot read.

With 100% of the state vote in, Issue 2 easily passed with almost 56% support. The outcome rescinds the Cherokees’ gaming license, which it had planned to use to construct a $300 million entertainment and hospitality destination called Legends Resort & Casino in Russellville.

Pope Support 

In 2018, voters in Pope County were among only 11 counties that went against the casino referendum. Arkansas’ 64 other counties approved the casino question.

Pope County Judge Ben Cross, a staunch supporter of the Cherokees’ casino plan, encouraged voters to reject the 2024 gaming referendum. He reasoned that opinions had changed in the county since the 2018 vote.

Cross was right, as Tuesday’s vote in Pope went against Issue 2. Almost 56% of Pope voters rejected Issue 2.

Local Voters in Charge has been saying they want a local vote. Well, they got one tonight, and it was definitively against their action,” said Cross.

“We’re disappointed by the fact that people bought into the disinformation that was being put out,” the judge continued. “The people closest to the source of contention knew the reality of it and recognized it for the value it is, while the rest of the state bought into misleading advertising.”