Southland Casino Contributes $150,000 to West Memphis Police Force
Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, owned by the parent company Delaware North, has made its biggest donation in the gaming property's history. Since its acquisition in the 1970s, the facility has faced tough times due to legalization of riverboat casinos in nearby Tunica, Mississippi. However, after the Arkansas General Assembly authorized the state's two greyhound racetracks (Southland and Oaklawn) to offer "electronic games of skill" in 2005, the casino started to experience a turnaround.
The 67-year-old casino was given a major revamp in 2018 when a ballot referendum legalized commercial casino gambling with Las Vegas-style slot machines, table games, and sports betting. This allowed Southland to obtain a casino license along with Oaklawn, as well as create two gaming licenses for new casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties.
As a result, Delaware North invested over $320 million into the property, leading to an expansion that increased the casino space and added a 300-room hotel.
The new Southland Casino Hotel boasts more than 2,400 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, and a Betly Sportsbook. Gross gaming revenue in Arkansas reached a record high of $614 million in 2021, with Southland logging an 11% year-over-year improvement, earning around $264 million from gamblers.
Hoping to improve safety and security in the community, Southland donated nearly $150,000 to the West Memphis Police Department. These funds will be used to upgrade the law enforcement agency's existing camera system, adding six cameras with license plate recognition capabilities on major roads and thoroughfares in the city.
"The safety and security of the residents and visitors to West Memphis is vital," said Osi Imomoh, president and general manager of Southland Casino Hotel. "This donation of cameras to our police department will provide them with modern technology to enhance their policing efforts in our community and act as a deterrent to those who seek to harm our community."
Brent Bradley, West Memphis assistant police chief, expressed his gratitude to Southland, especially the Director of Security Joe Baker, for assisting the police department. "Southland has always been a supporter of first responders, and we appreciate their commitment to our community's safety."
The Crime Problem in West Memphis
Despite these efforts, crime remains a significant issue in West Memphis. According to Neighborhood Scout, a website that provides neighborhood analysis, the city's crime rate is much higher than the state average. The website states, "With a crime rate of 66 per one thousand residents, West Memphis has one of the highest crime rates in America. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 15. Within Arkansas, more than 98% of the communities have a lower crime rate than West Memphis."
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