Arkansas’ Pope County Fields $405M Casino Pitch, Developers Offer $65M Upfront
- 02 Jun 2024
- Gambling News
Gulfside Casino Partnership, based in Mississippi, isn't giving up on its goal of constructing and running a commercial casino through Pope County in Arkansas.
The state of Arkansas is inviting bids for its only gaming concession, which offers slot machines, table games, and sports betting rights. This is almost six years after a casino license designated for Pope County was approved by voters in a ballot referendum. Gulfside, an organization helmed by riverboat gaming pioneers Rick Carter and Terry Green, provided an updated scope of work for its River Valley Casino Resort in Russellville to ARC last week.
A 70,000-square-foot casino with about 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, a sportsbook, and a 300-room hotel are all included in the $405 million proposal. The resort would have a spa and fitness facility, an outdoor amphitheater, many restaurants and bars, and convention space.
The bid for the Pope casino license is joined by the Gulfside proposal.
A $300 million plan has been submitted to ARC for consideration by the Cherokee Nation Businesses, an Oklahoma-based subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation. The project, which is also aimed at Russellville, would be called Legends Resort & Casino and would comprise 50,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,200 slots, 32 tables, sports betting, numerous eateries and bars, and a 200-room hotel with resort-style facilities.
Need for Judicial Assistance
Casino bids must be supported by a letter of support from the current judge or quorum court of the chosen county. This requirement stems from the 2018 voter referendum that altered the Arkansas Constitution to legalize commercial casino gaming in the counties of Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope. As of right now, only the Legends plan is endorsed in this way.
Both the Pope County Quorum Court and Judge Ben Cross of Pope County supported the Cherokee plan last year. It was assumed that just the Cherokee plan would be eligible for examination when ARC reopened the bidding process for the Pope casino earlier this month.
Gulfside has not been prevented by the legal system. When the corporation presents its case before the 13-member panel on June 6, it says it will look for the assistance of the county quorum court. For Gulfside to be eligible to appear before ARC, the casino requires the backing of seven judges.
In order to sweeten the pot, Gulfside is proposing to pay the county $65 million in advance for the license. In addition to producing local taxes, the corporation has committed to giving the county $2 million a year for economic development.
Cross Ignorant
Cross argues the quorum court should reject the Gulfside scheme. He will undoubtedly not support the plan for the River Valley.
"I’m satisfied with the relationship that Cherokee Nation Businesses built within the community over the last five years,” Cross explained. “I don’t anticipate issuing any more letters of support.”
Casey Castleberry, an attorney from Gulfside, believes the court ought to support River Valley since it is a larger resort project that offers a stronger guarantee for the county.
"We think that merits consideration,” Castleberry said last week during the resort’s unveiling. “It’s superior, frankly, to anything that’s been offered by any other potential applicant.”
The deadline for ARC to receive eligible casino offers is June 11.
