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

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