Cherokee Nation granted license for Arkansas' fourth casino after prolonged legal battle

The Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) has granted Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) a license to build a casino in Pope County, ending a lengthy process marked by legal battles and controversies that prolonged construction for years.

The decision, made on June 27, follows the approval of a constitutional amendment by Arkansas voters in 2018, allowing for four casinos in the state. The Pope County project is the fourth and final casino under that amendment.

The unanimous vote by the ARC came after a detailed review of CNE’s application, which scored 651 out of a possible 700 points. Gaming consultant Jim Fox praised the application, giving it a nine out of ten. 

"The Racing Commission is pleased to complete the process and issue the license as required by Amendment 100," said Scott Hardin, ARC spokesperson. "The company projects the timeline from start to finish to be 18 months."

CNE plans to construct the 50,000-square-foot Legends Casino northeast of Russellville, about 60 miles from Little Rock. The facility will feature 1,200 slot machines, 32 table games, a poker room, and a sportsbook. The project will also include a 200-room hotel, a conference center, an outdoor music venue, a water park, and RV and dog parks.

Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, expressed readiness to move forward. "With the license in hand, we are prepared to finalize the remaining permitting and administrative processes so we can commence construction," he stated.

The path to this decision has been contentious. Initially, Gulfside Casino Partnership was awarded the Pope County license, but legal disputes led to its revocation. The application process was reopened in 2023, and while both CNE and Gulfside submitted proposals, only CNE's was considered. Gulfside's proposal was deemed incomplete for lacking the necessary local support.

Despite this milestone, the project could face further challenges. A group backed by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is pushing to place a measure on the November ballot that could revoke the Pope County license. This group has until July 5 to submit petitions with at least 90,704 signatures from voters.