Gulfside makes new Pope County casino pitch

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

Rendering of proposed Gulfside casino in Pope County

Judge voids Pope County casino license granted to Cherokee Nation

by Talk Business and Politics (staff@talkbusiness.net)

The contentious path to building a casino in Pope County took yet another turn Thursday (Jan. 12) when Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled that Arkansas officials “unconstitutionally” granted a casino license to Cherokee Nation Businesses.

Gulfside Casino Partnership had appealed a November 2021 decision by the Arkansas Racing Commission to grant the Pope County license to Cherokee Nation Businesses and its Legends Resort and Casino company.

The Cherokee Nation proposal was approved in a narrow 3-2 Racing Commission vote after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled ineligible the Gulfside Casino Partnership proposal in late October 2021. The state’s high court ruled that Gulfside did not have an official letter from an elected official during the active part of the application process, while Cherokee Nation did.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/judge-voids-pope-county-casino-license-granted-to-cherokee-nation/

Arkansas Racing Commission moves forward with Cherokee Nation casino license in Pope County

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Racing Commission on Friday (Nov. 12) accepted the application and $250,000 filing fee from Cherokee Nation Businesses to move forward on a casino license in Pope County.

The motion passed on a 3-2 vote with two commissioners not participating. The Cherokee Nation proposal was deemed qualified after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled ineligible the Gulfside Casino Partnership proposal in late October. The state’s high court previously ruled that Gulfside did not have an official letter from an elected official during the active part of the application process, while Cherokee Nation did.

There is still separate litigation pending that could affect the eligibility of the Cherokee Nation license, but it may not be resolved for months.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/11/arkansas-racing-commission-moves-forward-with-cherokee-nation-casino-license-in-pope-county/

John Amatucci/Cherokee Nation

A Cherokee Nation casino in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. The business was issued a license Friday by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Arkansas Supreme Court rules for Cherokee Nation in Pope County casino case

KUAR | By Roby Brock / Talk Business & Politics

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation Businesses and against Gulfside Casino Partnership in a long-running controversial series of legal and regulatory challenges to place a casino in Pope County.

The dispute arises from actions taken soon after voters approved 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 to entities in Pope County and Jefferson County.

The high court’s ruling in Cherokee Nation Businesses and Arkansas Racing Commission vs. Gulfside Casino Partnership focused on which entity was a legal applicant for a casino license.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2021-10-21/arkansas-supreme-court-rules-for-cherokee-nation-in-pope-county-casino-case

The Arkansas Supreme Court