In the year 2018, electoral participants from Arkansas endorsed a constitutional amendment facilitating the establishment of four casinos. Though three of these gambling venues have been successfully completed, the permission for the remaining casino has been embroiled in a longstanding legal dispute. A joint venture between the Legends Resort and Casino and Cherokee Nation Business, both enterprises created by the Cherokee Nation, had won the license for the fourth establishment.
However, as things stood, even though the license had been sanctioned by the Arkansas Racing Commission, it was annulled in 2021 by a Pulaski County circuit judge. Further solidifying the judge’s decision, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the circuit judge’s ruling against the licensing authority regarding the legitimization of the permission granted to Legends and the Cherokee Nation business. This effectively implies that the issuance violated Amendment 100 of the Arkansas Constitution, thus rendering the casino license as unconstitutional.
Given the recent Arkansas Supreme Court verdict, this legal tussle likely seems to be drawing towards a close. The resultant implication is that Arkansas’ gambling licensing body would need to allocate a fresh license for the casino situated in Pope County.
The Battle for the Casino License Persists
The recent ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court was well-received by Casey Castleberry, a legal representative of Gulfside Casino Partnership, one of the competing contenders for a Pope Casino license. Castleberry conveyed the company’s satisfaction over the high court’s decision to uphold the circuit judge’s 2021 ruling that declared Legends ineligible for securing a license in Pope County.
Emphasizing their optimism, Castleberry stated, “Just as the Racing Commission selected our superior application in 2020 in a head-to-head with Legends, we look forward to demonstrating again to county leaders and residents how our proposed world-class resort will benefit them and the entire state”.
In sharp contrast to Gulfside’s reaction, Cherokee Nation Business responded negatively to the recent Supreme Court verdict. Quoted by the Associated Press, the company expressed its discontent with the legal battle’s outcome. In spite of this, Cherokee Nation Business’s CEO, Chuck Garrett, reassured that they are equipped and willing to collaborate with state and local officials to establish the Legends Resort and Casino, which is projected to spur economic development and growth in the area.
“We are fully committed to moving forward and working with local and state officials as we have been for the past five years to build Legends Resort & Casino and bring the much-needed economic growth the community and state deserves.“
Chuck Garrett, CEO
Meanwhile, Trent Minner, an executive with the Department of Finance and Administration’s Regulatory Division which oversees the state’s gambling regulatory body, the Arkansas Racing Commission, clarified that the procedure for a new application would be kicked off “in a timely manner.” Finishing off, he announced that the DFA will be in-sync with the Commission to guarantee the application meets all necessary requirements.
