The Arkansas on line casino license earmarked for Pope County will seemingly be issued earlier than the tip of the 12 months. That’s in keeping with an up to date timeline on how the Arkansas Racing Fee (ARC) will go about fielding bids for the gaming alternative and issuing the state’s fourth and remaining business on line casino license.
Alex Lieblong, chair of the Arkansas Racing Fee, is consulted by state’s Deputy Lawyer Doralee Chandler on tips on how to go about contemplating new bids for the Pope County on line casino license. The Pope County on line casino concession stays unissued greater than 5 years after state voters approved its issuance. (Picture: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
The ARC on Tuesday formally adopted revised guidelines to its on line casino gaming protocols in contemplating purposes and approving bids. The up to date procedures got here after commissioners have been suggested by counsel provided by Arkansas Lawyer Common Tim Griffin’s (R) workplace.
The gaming and horse racing company’s revisions first require the endorsement of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R). After she indicators off on the framework, the situations will transfer to the Legislative Council for evaluation.
As soon as the Council points its blessing, the ARC will likely be cleared to open a 30-day bidding interval for on line casino builders taken with securing the Pope County on line casino concession.
How We Arrived Right here
In 2018, Arkansans accredited a statewide poll referendum to permit a single on line casino within the counties of Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope.
Two of the licenses have been allotted for the Southland and Oaklawn racino racetracks, respectively positioned in Crittenden and Garland counties. Southland and Oaklawn have since opened Las Vegas-style casinos.
A 3rd license was given to the Quapaw Nation, a Native American tribe in Oklahoma, however with deep historic ties to Arkansas. The Quapaws partnered with authorities officers in Jefferson to open the Saracen On line casino Resort.
The Pope license stays up for grabs greater than 5 years after the gaming license was approved by voters. Two bidders — the Cherokee Nation Companies, the business unit of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, and Mississippi-based Gulfside On line casino Partnership — have tied up the Pope license in courtroom.
The Pope County on line casino saga started in 2020 when a commissioner was discovered to have a bias in grading the Gulfside plan an ideal 100/100. He did so whereas giving the Cherokees’ bid simply 29 factors. Regardless of the scandal, the ARC’s guidelines required it to situation Gulfside the license inside 30 days of the company’s vote.
The Cherokees sued the state on grounds that the ARC shouldn’t have even thought of the Gulfside pitch to construct a $254 million vacation spot in Russellville known as River Valley On line casino Resort. In a case that reached the state Supreme Court docket, it was decided that Modification 100 language necessitating a on line casino bid to have the help of the county choose or quorum courtroom referred solely to a sitting choose or quorum courtroom, not a former choose or quorum courtroom.
The Gulfside pitch included the endorsement of Pope County Choose Ed Gibson, who lent his help to the on line casino simply days earlier than he exited workplace in December 2018.
Lawsuits Proceed
With the Arkansas Supreme Court docket invalidating the Gulfside pitch, the ARC deemed the Cherokees’ $300 million proposal, known as Legends Resort & On line casino — additionally focusing on Russellville — because the winner. Gulfside then sued the ARC on grounds that the Cherokee pitch additionally violated Modification 100.
In one more case that reached the state’s highest courtroom, it was decided that the Cherokees violated the modification by bidding as a consortium. The Cherokee Nation Companies proposal included a newly fashioned entity known as Legends Resort & On line casino, LLC.
Pulaski County Circuit Choose Tim Fox dominated that Modification 100 required the ARC to solely contemplate bids from single entities that may exhibit proficiency in operating business casinos. Although the Legends LLC is absolutely managed by the CNB, which has huge expertise in gaming, the bid together with two entities rendered it absolute.
The ARC’s refreshed bidding guidelines for Pope County haven’t but been made public.
