USA – Arkansas: Court: Casino backing must come from current officials

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday said the endorsement required for a casino license must come from elected local officials in office at the time of the application, a key victory for the Cherokee Nation’s efforts to build a casino in the state.

Justices upheld an Arkansas law and state Racing Commission rule on the requirement, reversing a lower court’s decision that they were unconstitutional.

Voters in 2018 approved an amendment requiring the state to allow four casinos. Since then, casinos have opened at racetracks in Hot Springs and West Memphis, and in Pine Bluff.

One of the applicants for the casino, Mississippi-based Gulfside Casino Partnership, submitted its application in 2019 with a letter of support from Pope County’s former judge. Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Businesses submitted an application with the county’s current judge.

Read full story at  https://madison.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/court-casino-backing-must-come-from-current-officials/article_8dd92794-3414-5925-a96a-6f469efd6ff5.html