The decision was a significant setback for Pope County and its supporters, including Judge Ben Cross, who had advocated for the project for its potential economic and infrastructure benefits
Arkansas voters have killed the planned Legends Resort and Casino in Pope County by passing Issue 2, taking away the Cherokee Nation’s permission to build what would have been the state’s fourth casino.
Despite Local Backing, Statewide Vote Ends Pope County Casino Project
Even though many locals backed the casino, with 55.6% of Pope County residents voting against Issue 2, people across the state got to make the final decision approving the measure by almost 10 points.
The ruling dealt a heavy blow to Pope County and its backers, including Judge Ben Cross, who had pushed the project due to its possible positive effects on the economy and infrastructure. Cross pointed out the strange twist in the result saying that even though Pope County locals showed they wanted the casino, voters across the state swayed by a big-money campaign ended up overturning their wishes, reported the Arkansas Times. He mentioned that the drive to stop the casino, which cost $17 million got its funding from a rival casino group in Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation.
The Pope County casino license came from a 2018 amendment allowing up to four casinos in Arkansas. Garland, Crittenden, and Jefferson counties got their licenses, but Pope County’s project ran into ongoing legal fights and pushback.
This year, the Arkansas Racing Commission gave the license to Cherokee Nation Entertainment. They planned to build a 325-acre resort with a casino, concert spot, and water park. The project was set to have an impact of over $5 billion on the economy within ten years. It was also expected to make many jobs and boost local tourism.
Competing Casino Groups Drive Issue 2, Halting Cherokee Nation’s Pope County Project
Nevertheless, the passing of Issue 2 nullifies Pope County’s casino project and cuts the number of casino licenses allowed in the state back to three. This change also adds a new rule: any new casino plans need approval at both the state level and through a local vote in the county where someone wants to build it.
Judge Cross expressed regret over the lost chances stressing that the project would have helped the area. He noted that the missed economic investment would impact public services, like money for schools, fire stations, and vital infrastructure such as water and sewer systems. He also suggested the possibility of drawn-out court fights following the vote, though he acknowledged these could take years to settle with unclear results.
The choice has wide-reaching effects on the state’s gambling scene. While Arkansas has three working casinos nearby Oklahoma’s Choctaw and Cherokee Nations keep a close eye on changes that might affect their earnings. The Choctaw Nation, which stood against the Pope County project due to possible rivalry, owns a large part of casinos near the Arkansas border.
As big physical casinos face an uncertain future, people might start paying more attention to Arkansas’s growing online gaming industry.
The state already allows mobile sports betting but could add online slots and table games to the mix. If this happens, Arkansas could become the first Southern US state to take this step. This move would make Arkansas a pioneer in digital gaming in the region, which is quite different from how it used to resist wider casino development in the past.
