Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Businesses is challenging a recently approved ballot amendment in the Arkansas Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State John Thurston approved an amendment to stop a casino from being built in Pope County. The amendment had enough approved signatures to go on the ballot for voters in November.

The amendment being pushed by a group called Local Voters in Charge would prevent a casino from being built in any community that did not vote for it. Cherokee Nation Businesses and a new group called the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee are opposing the amendment.

Lawsuit filed over Arkansas casino amendment

*Legends Resort & Casino*
A rendering of the proposed Legends Resort and Casino in Pope County. A new lawsuit says signatures collected for an amendment to repeal the Pope County casino license were illegally gathered.

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The Gulfside Casino Partnership is hoping its broad $405 million plan for a Pope County casino will be enough to get a resolution of support from the county’s Quorum Court. But Pope County Judge Ben Cross isn’t confident Gulfside can deliver.

Pope County Quorum Court members will hear a proposal from Gulfside on June 6. It is the latest in an almost five-year history of legal wrangling between Gulfside and a competing casino proposal from Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB).

Amendment 100 was approved in 2018 by Arkansas voters. It established The Arkansas Casino Gaming Amendment, which requires the Racing Commission to issue licenses to Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs, Southland Racing Corporation in West Memphis, and entities in Pope County and Jefferson County. Casinos in three counties are operational: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis and Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff.

Gulfside makes new Pope County casino pitch