Arkansas to launch application process for Pope County casino license after years of legal disputes

Arkansas is gearing up to begin accepting applications for the state’s fourth and final casino, with the Racing Commission paving the way for a fresh application period for the much-delayed Pope County license. Following a series of legal battles and bureaucratic hurdles, the commission aims to initiate the process as early as May, pending legislative approval.

Deputy Attorney General Doralee Chandler indicated that if the rules are sanctioned by the Legislature, the application window, running for 30 days, could open before the summer's end. This marks the third attempt by the commission to allocate the Pope County casino license after previous rulings nullified licenses issued to Gulfside Casino Partnership and Cherokee Nation Business/Legends Resort & Casino.

Chairman Alex Lieblong expressed relief at the potential conclusion of the protracted litigation saga, acknowledging the weariness accumulated over years of legal wrangling. “We’ve been through enough litigation to last us a lifetime,” he said at a recent meeting, as per Arkansas Advocate. The process has seen five years of bureaucratic and legal battles waged by dozens of lobbyists and attorneys.

The proposed rules, subject to legislative endorsement in April, would come into effect following a brief administrative period before the commission finalizes a scoring rubric and launches the application process.

The genesis of this licensing endeavor traces back to a 2018 ballot initiative, Amendment 100, which sanctioned the establishment of four casinos in Arkansas. The first two licenses were swiftly allocated to existing racetracks in West Memphis and Hot Springs, while the third found a home in Jefferson County with the opening of the Saracen Casino Resort by the Quapaw Nation.

However, the Pope County license has been a point of contention, with staunch opposition from local residents and competing interests vying for the lucrative opportunity. Despite the Cherokee Nation's apparent advantage, buoyed by local political support, other contenders like Gulfside remain steadfast in their pursuit of the license.