Arkansas court upholds measure to revoke Pope County casino license

Sudhanshu Ranjan October 23, 2024

The Arkansas Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that has sparked attention across the state. The court decided to uphold the wording of a ballot measure aimed at revoking a casino license granted for Pope County. This ruling came in the face of lawsuits challenging the validity of the proposed amendment, raising several legal and political issues regarding the future of casino operations in the state.

Legal history behind the Pope County casino

The legal battle dates back to 2018 when Arkansas voters approved an amendment allowing for the construction of casinos in four designated locations: Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope counties. While casinos in three of these locations have since been built and are operational, the development of a casino in Pope County has been plagued by legal and political disputes, mainly involving Cherokee Nation Entertainment. The Pope County casino project has faced multiple legal challenges since its inception. This latest court ruling is just another chapter in a long and contentious legal battle.

The legal dispute has been accompanied by a significant financial battle. The Choctaw Nation, which supports the revocation of the Pope County license, has spent over $8.8 million in campaign contributions. On the other hand, Cherokee Nation Businesses has invested $11.6 million in efforts to defeat the proposed amendment and secure their right to build the casino.

Public opinion on the Pope County casino license is divided. Many residents have expressed concerns about the social and economic impact of a casino in their community, while others see it as a potential source of jobs and revenue. The broader Arkansas public remains mixed on the issue of casino gambling, with opinions often divided along geographic and political lines.

Arkansas court ruling

In a 6-1 ruling, the Arkansas Supreme Court sided with the proponents of the measure, stating that the ballot’s wording was clear, fair, and unbiased. Justice Karen Baker, writing for the majority, emphasised that the ballot title provided an honest and intelligible presentation of the amendment, allowing voters to make an informed decision. Justice Baker wrote, “We hold that it is an adequate and fair representation without misleading tendencies or partisan colouring.”

In a separate legal effort, Cherokee Nation Entertainment, along with the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee, filed a lawsuit to challenge the signature gathering process behind the ballot measure. The group claimed that the initiative violated several state laws regarding the collection of signatures. However, on 14 October, the court dismissed these claims, stating that the measure had met the legal requirements for appearing on the ballot.

With the court’s ruling in place, the proposed amendment will now go before voters. If approved, the amendment would effectively revoke the Pope County casino license, forcing Cherokee Nation Entertainment to abandon its plans for the area.

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