Pope County in Arkansas Receives a $405 Million Proposal for a Casino, with Developers Committing $65 Million Immediately.
The Mississippi-based Gulfside Casino Partnership is not giving up on its quest to establish a commercial casino in Arkansas, specifically in Pope County.
Almost six years after a casino license designated for Pope County was approved by state voters through a ballot measure, the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) is inviting bids for the state's single remaining gaming concession that comes with slot machines, table games, and sports betting privileges. Last week, Gulfside, an entity led by riverboat gaming pioneers Terry Green and Rick Carter, submitted an updated proposal for their River Valley Casino Resort in Russellville.
Their $405 million proposal includes a 70,000-square-foot casino with over 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, a sportsbook, and a 300-room hotel. Other features of the resort would be convention space, various restaurants and bars, an outdoor amphitheater, and a spa and fitness center.
Gulfside's proposal competes with one other bid for the Pope casino license.
The Cherokee Nation Businesses, a subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, submitted a $300 million development for ARC's consideration. Named Legends Resort & Casino, this project also aims for Russellville and would contain a 50,000-square-foot gaming space with 1,200 slots, 32 tables, sports betting, multiple restaurants and bars, and a 200-room hotel with resort amenities.
Judicial Support Required
The 2018 ballot referendum which changed the Arkansas Constitution to permit commercial casino gambling in the counties of Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope mandates that casino bids must come with a letter of support from the targeted county's current judge or quorum court. Presently, only the Legends plan has this support.
Pope County Judge Ben Cross and the Pope County Quorum Court officially endorsed the Cherokee plan last year. Earlier this month, when ARC reopened bidding for the Pope casino, it was believed that only the Cherokee plan would be qualified for review.
There's no need for concern, however, as Gulfside intends to acquire the county quorum court's support when they present their case to the 13-member panel on June 6. To be deemed eligible by ARC, Gulfside needs seven judges to support the casino.
Gulfside as well as their attorney Casey Castleberry, have guaranteed a $65 million payment to the county upon receipt of the license. In addition, they have committed to allotting $2 million annually to the county for economic development purposes.
Cross Unimpressed
Cross feels there's no reason for the quorum court to support the Gulfside plan. He also declined to endorse the River Valley plan.
"I'm content with the relationship that Cherokee Nation Businesses developed within the community over the past five years," Cross remarked. "I don't anticipate issuing any more letters of support."
In response, Castleberry, Gulfside's attorney, states that the River Valley plan should be endorsed by the court since it is a larger and more generous undertaking.
"We think it deserves consideration," Castleberry asserted during the resort's unveiling. "It's better, frankly, than any other prospective candidate's offer."
The ARC has set a June 11 deadline for qualified casino proposals to be submitted.
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