USA Top 10 best casinos in Virginia

USA Top 10 crypto casinos in Virginia

USA Newest 10 casinos in Virginia

  • Casino News
  • USA News

Arkansas Pope County Casino Referendum Set for November

The Arkansas Supreme Court has cleared the way for a referendum on the future of a casino in Pope County to appear on the November 2024 ballot. This decision follows the dismissal of two legal challenges to Issue 2, which seeks to repeal the county's casino license and implement new local voting requirements for future casino proposals.
facebook twitter twitter
Arkansas Flag

Branimir Ivanov | Senior News Contributor

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Arkansas Set for Positive Change

A referendum on whether Pope County, Arkansas, will remain a designated casino site is set to appear on the November 2024 ballot, following a recent ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court dismissed two challenges to Issue 2, confirming that votes on the measure will be counted.

 

Arkansas Supreme Court Rulings

This week, the Arkansas Supreme Court addressed challenges regarding the legitimacy of Issue 2, which seeks to repeal the 2018 authorization for a casino in Pope County. On Monday, the court unanimously rejected the first challenge, which claimed that canvassers improperly registered and were allegedly offered financial incentives to gather signatures. The court found the evidence presented by the challengers insufficient.

A second challenge, dismissed on Thursday by a narrower 6-5 margin, argued that the language of the ballot measure was misleading. Again, the majority of justices disagreed with this assertion, clearing the way for the referendum.

Issue 2 contains two key provisions: the repeal of the existing casino license for Pope County and a requirement for local referendums for any future casino proposals in the county. Currently, Pope County remains without an operational casino, while the other three authorized sites are up and running.

The language of Issue 2 suggests that any future development would face increased scrutiny and additional regulatory hurdles, although it does not entirely preclude new casino ventures. Polling data regarding Issue 2 indicates a divided electorate. A recent Talk Business & Politics poll found that 42% of respondents supported the measure, while 30% were undecided, and 28% expressed opposition. The significant portion of undecided voters suggests that the outcome of the referendum remains uncertain, with potential implications for casino development in the county.

If voters reject Issue 2, Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE), which received a license for a casino in Pope County from the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) in July, may proceed with development. However, the potential for further litigation looms large, given the contentious history surrounding the Pope County casino license.

 

The court's ruling ensures that voters will have their say on the future of a casino in Pope County.

 

Conclusions

If Issue 2 fails, Gulfside Casino Partnership, a competitor for the Pope County license with a history of legal challenges, is likely to escalate its efforts against CNE’s license. Gulfside’s involvement is complicated by its connections to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which has also funded efforts to support Issue 2. Critics argue that the Choctaw Nation’s financial backing is an attempt to protect its own casino interests across the state line.

With the Arkansas Supreme Court already involved multiple times in the Pope County casino saga, further litigation appears inevitable should the referendum not pass. Observers anticipate that a rejected Issue 2 would lead to an extended legal battle over the casino license. As Election Day approaches, the implications of Issue 2 will be closely watched, not only for their impact on local casino operations but also for the broader landscape of gaming in Arkansas.

The Hottest Usa casinos of 2024

USA Icon
US Players Accepted
Avantgarde Casino logo

Avantgarde Casino Review

USARated 100.00/100%

welcome bonus

400% Weekly Promotion

35x wagering (Deposit & Bonus)

Play
Number of games
20+
Payment methods
14
Game providers
5
Min deposit
25
US Players
Accepted
American Eagle
All-American Casino
SlotsandCasino Casino logo

SlotsandCasino Casino Review

USARated 99.98/100%

welcome bonus

300%/$1,500 + 100 Free Spins

30x wagering (Deposit & Bonus)

Play
Number of games
11+
Payment methods
6
Game providers
10
Min deposit
25
US Players
Accepted
burger
American Favorite
Cafe Casino logo

Cafe Casino Review

USARated 98.12/100%

welcome bonus

250%/$1,500

40x wagering (Deposit Only)

Play
Number of games
150+
Payment methods
8
Game providers
3
Min deposit
20
US Players
Accepted
Popularity Icon
Trending in the USA
DuckyLuck Casino logo

DuckyLuck Casino Review

USARated 99.97/100%

welcome bonus

500%/$2,500+ 150 Free Spins

30x wagering (Deposit & Bonus)

Play
Number of games
11+
Payment methods
6
Game providers
10
Min deposit
25
US Players
Accepted
trending topic
Hot in USA
Bovada Casino logo

Bovada Casino Review

USARated 99.12/100%

welcome bonus

100%/$1,000

25x wagering (Deposit Only)

Play
Number of games
10+
Payment methods
4
Game providers
3
Min deposit
20
US Players
Accepted
growth
Growing in USA
Ignition Casino logo

Ignition Casino Review

USARated 98.11/100%

welcome bonus

300%/$3,000

25x wagering (Deposit Only)

Play
Number of games
10+
Payment methods
5
Game providers
4
Min deposit
20
US Players
Accepted
USA Icon
US Players Accepted
Slots LV Casino logo

Slots LV Casino Review

USARated 98.13/100%

welcome bonus

200%/$3,000 + 30 Free Spins

35x wagering (Deposit & Bonus)

Play
Number of games
150+
Payment methods
4
Game providers
73
Min deposit
20
US Players
Accepted
Betonline Casino logo

Betonline Casino Review

USARated 99.18/100%

welcome bonus

100 Free Spins

Play
Number of games
70+
Payment methods
7
Game providers
8
Min deposit
25
US Players
Accepted
gold medal
#1 Crypto 2024
BC.Game Casino logo

BC.Game Casino Review

USARated 99.46/100%

welcome bonus

360%/$220,000

60x wagering (Deposit & Bonus)

Play
Number of games
610+
Payment methods
5
Game providers
64
Min deposit
0.01
US Players
Accepted
USA Icon
U.S. Choice Champion
JazzSports Casino logo

JazzSports Casino Review

USARated 97.96/100%

welcome bonus

200%/$2,000

40x wagering (Deposit & Bonus)

Play
Number of games
83+
Payment methods
7
Game providers
36
Min deposit
10
US Players
Accepted
10/ 10 (100%)

Related News

Nevada Flag

Resorts World Las Vegas Faces Scrutiny and Financial Woes

New Hampshire Flag

Cordish Casino Challenges New Hampshire’s iGaming Prospects

Lion Saga Odyssey

Play’n GO Explores Survival in Lion Saga Odyssey

hide-html