Cherokee-backed group counter, amendment proposal threatening Pope County casino license, sparks legal fight in Arkansas gaming sector

Investing in Arkansas, a Cherokee-sponsored group, was founded to counter a constitutional amendment aimed at repealing a controversial Pope County casino license. The development adds another layer to the ongoing legal battle that Choto Nation and Cherokee Nation have launched over lucrative gaming licenses.

Jennifer McGill of Russellville leads Investing in Arkansas as chair, and Cale Turner of Little Rock serves as the board's treasurer. The group's financial support comes from Cheroke Nation Entertainment.

On March 20, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin approved a constitutional amendment that would allow supporters of the initiative, known as local voter affairs, to begin gathering the 90,000 signatures needed to question the November vote.

In addition to eliminating Pope County's casino license provision, the proposed amendment aims to mandate that a quorum court in any county where casinos are proposed must also call a special election. The election would determine whether local voters approve casinos before the Arkansas Race Board or other governing bodies accept applications for casinos in those counties.

In 2018, Arkansas voters passed the 100th Amendment to enact the Arkansas Casino Game Amendment. The amendment directed the Racing Commission to issue casino licenses to organizations in Hot Springs' Okron Jockey Club, Southland Racing Corporation in West Memphis, and Pope and Jefferson counties. Currently, casinos operate in three counties: Okron Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis, and Saracens Casino Resort in Pine Bluff.

On Jan. 11, the Arkansas Supreme Court decided not to reconsider a lower court ruling that blocked the award of Pope County's casino license to Cherokee Nation Business. The decision redirected the licensing process back to the Arkansas Racing Board (ARC).

thousands of jobs

In a May 14 announcement, Investing in Arkansas criticized the proposed constitutional amendment, arguing that it could prevent thousands of jobs and millions of tax revenues. The group claims that efforts to disrupt casinos have already cost state and local governments about $100 million in tax revenue since 2019.

"Don't fall for this out-of-state ruse to roll back casino action," Natalie Gidotti, vice president of Arkansas Investments, said in a statement cited by Talk Business & Politics. "The group claims that their efforts are about regional choice, but in reality, their proposal would go against the will of the Arkansas electorate and completely eliminate Pope County's casino licenses. This attempt to revoke Pope County's casino licenses is being pursued by the Choto Nation of Oklahoma, which controls competing casinos just across the state line near Port Smith. Their mission is to ensure that Arkansas' tourism and taxes continue to flow across state lines and into their pockets."

Cherokee Nation Casino's initial proposals included a $225 million facility plan with a 50,000-square-foot gaming space with 1,200 slot machines and 32 table games, a sportsbook inside a luxury sports bar, a 200-room luxury hotel, a resort-style swimming pool, spa and fitness center, 15,000-square-foot mixed-use conference and entertainment space that can accommodate 1,000 people, an outdoor water park and music venue.  온라인카지노사이트

On the formation of organizations that invest in Arkansas, local voters offered their own statements, emphasizing the importance of local decision-making. "One thing we all need to agree on is that casinos shouldn't be forced into communities that don't want them. Our proposal just protects all Arkansas communities from that happening to them. Our opponents want to deprive local voters of having a final say in this matter. Some communities may want casinos, others don't, but we trust local voters to decide what's best for their communities, and that's all our amendment does. If our opponents are confident in the interests of their casinos and local support for them, why are they against giving local voters a final say?"

Amid the ongoing debate over the Pope County casino license, both sides remain firm in their positions, highlighting the complex and important nature of the issue for Arkansas' future.