“We are disappointed by the decision handed down by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Just as the Racing Commission selected our superior application in 2020 in a head-to-head with Legends, we look forward to demonstrating again to county leaders and residents how our proposed world-class resort will benefit them and the entire state.”Ĭhuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, said in a statement that his organization is committed to operating the Pope County casino:

“We are ecstatic about the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Judge Fox’s ruling that Legends was not a qualified applicant for the Pope County casino license. Gulfside attorney Casey Castleberry offered this statement after the ruling: The amendment passed with 54.1% of voters in favor statewide. The Jefferson County license is held by Saracen Casino Resort, but a casino has never opened in Pope County. In 2018, Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed for casinos at what are now called Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino in West Memphis, along with one casino each in Jefferson County and Pope County. We will work with the commission to ensure all legal requirements of Amendment 100 are fulfilled and that the process is carried out in compliance with Arkansas law.” “DFA will be working with the Arkansas Racing Commission to open a new application window in a timely manner. “The Department of Finance and Administration’s Regulatory Division is still reviewing the opinion issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court this morning,” said Trent Minner, Administrator of DFA’s Regulatory Division, which includes the Arkansas Racing Commission.

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, which includes the state Racing Commission, provided this statement after the ruling: The court also found that Cherokee Nation Businesses was not a qualified applicant, since its application was rejected by the commission and should not be allowed to join Legends with an amended application.

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