The Southland On line casino in West Memphis, Ark., has accomplished a $320 million growth that overhauled the previous racino venue right into a full-fledged on line casino and resort.
The newly opened on line casino ground on the Southland On line casino Resort in West Memphis, Ark. The previous racino has transitioned to a full-scale Las Vegas-style gaming property by way of a $320 million overhaul. (Picture: Southland On line casino Resort)
Arkansas voters in 2018 handed a poll referendum that amended the state structure to permit business on line casino playing with slot machines, desk video games, and sports activities betting. Nonetheless, Arkansas Concern 4, which handed statewide with a bit greater than 54% of the vote in assist of the gaming query, solely permits on line casino playing within the counties of Crittenden, Garland, Pope, and Jefferson.
Concern 4 licensed the creation of two new, from-the-ground-up casinos, with one every allotted for Pope and Jefferson counties. The referendum moreover allowed the racino services in Crittenden and Garland, respectively Southland and Oaklawn Racing, to transition into Las Vegas-style casinos.
Southland, a greyhound racetrack that plans to stop canine racing on the finish of the 12 months, introduced quickly after the 2018 referendum that it could spend a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to overtake the West Memphis facility right into a on line casino vacation spot. Mum or dad firm Delaware North mentioned the property could be outfitted with a resort and lots of the typical facilities anticipated at an built-in resort.
This week, the Buffalo-based gaming and hospitality agency introduced that the $320 million overhaul of its Arkansas on line casino has been accomplished.
Premier Mid-South On line casino Vacation spot
Arkansas lawmakers supported asking voters about Concern 4 with a view to preserve a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} gambled by Arkansans at casinos in neighboring states inside Arkansas. A couple of in two voters seemingly agreed that legalizing and regulating casinos is in Arkansas’ finest curiosity.
Together with Southland in Arkansas, Delaware North operates casinos or racinos in Arizona, Florida, Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. The agency believes its $320 million funding in Southland has created a “premier Mid-South on line casino vacation spot.”
What started 16 years in the past as a racino with 750 slot machines is now a on line casino with not solely slots, but additionally desk video games and sports activities betting.
The Southland growth is the fruits of a legacy undertaking for Delaware North,” mentioned Delaware North CEO Lou Jacobs. “The completion places Southland on the map as a real on line casino vacation spot that can draw patrons from each close to and much.”
Southland opened in 1956 and have become one of the vital well-liked greyhound racetracks within the nation. Delaware North bought Southland within the mid-Nineteen Seventies. Gaming was added in 2006.
On line casino Particulars
Southland’s new on line casino ground spans greater than 113,000 sq. ft and is fastened with roughly 2,400 slot machines, 50 dwell supplier desk video games, and a Betly Sportsbook.
Betly is the sports activities betting subsidiary of Delaware North. Along with Arkansas, the Betly Sportsbook is operational in West Virginia and Tennessee.
Southland’s newly opened, 20-story resort tower options 300 guestrooms, together with 20 penthouse suites. A wide range of bars and eating places additionally opened along side the brand new on line casino and resort, Delaware North mentioned.
Southland is the biggest of the three casinos in Arkansas. Oaklawn Racing’s $100 million overhaul in Scorching Springs resulted in a on line casino with about 1,500 slots, 30 desk video games, and sports activities betting. And the totally new $350 million Saracen On line casino Resort in Pine Bluff options roughly 2,000 slots, 30 tables, and sports activities betting. Saracen is owned and operated by the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Pope County’s on line casino alternative stays clouded in authorized challenges.
