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The Arkansas attorney general has approved an amendment requiring local voter approval for a casino license in Pope County to go on the November statewide ballot.
The committee backing the repeal of the casino license, Local Voters in Charge, successfully gathered more than the required 90,704 signatures from at least 50 counties to qualify for the ballot. In fact, they submitted more than 162,000 signatures from all 75 counties by the July 5 deadline.
Key takeaways
- Arkansas attorney general approves ballot measure for Pope County casino vote.
- The Local Voters in Charge committee collected over 162,000 signatures from all 75 counties to qualify the measure for the ballot.
- Gaming regulators awarded Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) a casino license amidst legal disputes.
- A local group opposes the ballot measure, citing economic concerns and misleading claims.
License awarded to Cherokee Nation Entertainment
A 2018 constitutional amendment authorized the construction of casinos in four Arkansas locations (Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope). Three of these sites now have operational casinos, with Pope County being the remaining site.
And now, one month ago the state’s racing commission awarded Cherokee Nation Entertainment the license to operate a casino in Pope County.
CNE proposes a 325-acre casino resort complex for the area northeast of Russellville. The site is along Interstate 40 between exits 83 and 84.
Legal disputes over the Pope County casino license have persisted since 2019. Opposition from local communities and competition among casino operators drive the disputes.
Local group campaigns against casino ballot measure
A local group, Investing in Arkansas, is actively campaigning against the ballot measure that would allow this development.
Natalie Ghidotti, the group’s vice chairman, claims the amendment is a scheme by a previously unsuccessful casino operator and urges voters to reject it due to its potential harm to the state’s job market and revenue.
According to an article by Little Rock Public Radio, Ghidotti said: “The group pushing this initiative has repeatedly lied to Arkansas voters about what this proposed amendment will really do.
This ballot measure is nothing but a ploy by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma—a rejected casino operator—to change the Arkansas constitution to protect its business interests in another state.”
“It robs the state, Pope County, and Russellville of jobs and revenue to fund essential services that benefit Arkansans, like roads, bridges, and education. Arkansas jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact are at stake. A vote AGAINST this amendment in November is a vote for the growth of Arkansas,” the group said in the statement.
In a statement released Wednesday, Local Voters in Charge spokesperson Hans Stiritz asserted the power of the people, referencing the state motto, “Regnat Populus,” which translates to “the people rule.”
“In record numbers, Arkansas voters have stated the obvious – casinos should not be forced into communities that do not want them.”
Meanwhile, a legal battle is brewing over the Pope County casino license as a failed applicant. Gulfside Casino Partnership challenged the recent award by filing a lawsuit on July 2nd. They claim local government support letters were obtained through coercion.
However, the winning bidder, Cherokee Nation Entertainment, has fired back, denying these allegations and asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
Legal battle escalates over Arkansas ballot measure
Anti-ballot measure groups might have gone up a notch to push their plight. On Thursday, they filed a lawsuit against the ballot item. The complaint claims the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma-funded ballot measure campaign broke many laws on acquiring signatures.
The lawsuit also contests the language of the ballot initiative. It argues that while collecting signatures, Local Voters in Charge repeatedly made misleading claims regarding the proposed measure.
According to the Associated Press, Dover Mayor Roger Lee, an officer with the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee said: “Arkansans must be made aware of this deliberate scheme to openly violate Arkansas laws regarding canvassing and to mislead and confuse voters.”
Per adventure, if the court rules in favor of the lawsuit, the proposed amendment will revoke the Pope County casino’s permit.
