Arkansas Supreme Court Denies Challenge to Casino Initiative

On Monday, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected part of a lawsuit challenging a ballot measure that would revoke a casino license in Pope County. 

The Judges unanimously rejected the claims that the measure allegedly violated laws for signature gathering. 

A second part of the suit, which challenges the ballot measure's wording, has yet to be ruled on. 

This comes as a Wyoming legislator hopes to bring online casino play to that state in 2025.

Court Denies Signature Gathering Claim

The Supreme Court denied the challenge from ACCC that challenged the findings of Special Master Randy Wright. 

Wright’s findings concluded that the lawsuit’s claim that the Local Voter in Charge didn’t submit the required paperwork regarding paid campaigners and that they violated a ban on paying per signature acquired from a canvasser. 

Following the ruling, the Local Voters in Charge released the following statement: 

“We’re grateful for today’s Arkansas Supreme Court ruling. It’s no small thing for the Supreme Court to unanimously rule that we got it right on the canvassing process, with over 110 thousand signatures ultimately affirmed.

“Issue 2’s message of local voter control — that communities should have the final say on a casino in their own hometown — is resonating across the state. We look forward to the court’s final decision on the ballot language challenge, with the hope that the vote of the people will be counted on Issue 2 in November.”

ACCC Responds

The ACCC, via spokesperson Allison Burum, responded to the ruling with the following statement: 

“While disappointing, we still await the court’s decision on the ballot title challenge. Issue 2 is misleading, and its sole purpose is to undo the will of Arkansas voters by eliminating the fourth casino license they approved in 2018.

“Voters will see this as a bad deal — out of state billionaires trying to manipulate Arkansans into changing the constitution to benefit their own self interest.

“If passed, Issue 2 would cost Arkansans thousands of jobs and much needed tax revenue, including funding for our roads.”

Sussman Was Inebriated

Following a statewide referendum in 2018, four counties—Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope—were allowed to build casinos. 

All but Pope had operational casinos because it was one of 11 counties in the state that voted against the casinos. 

In the summer of 2024, the Arkansas Racing Commission awarded CNE the license to operate a casino in the county. 

The Commission considered only CNE (Cherokee Nation Entertainment) 's application. Gulfside Casino Partnership was the only other entity to submit one. 

Gulfside Casino Partnership challenged the award in a July 2 lawsuit alleging that support letters were obtained via pressure. 

Meanwhile, the Pope County license has faced considerable scrutiny, including from Invest in Arkansas.

From here, CNE waits for the court's ruling on the second part of the lawsuit.