Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge recently rejected a voter-initiated proposal to allow commercial casino gambling in Arkansas. Rutledge said the referendum language was poorly written.
The proposal was presented by Barry Emigh, a self-employed artist and sculptor who lives in Hot Springs. For nearly 20 years, has unsuccessfully offered dozens of casino-related amendments to the state constitution. He made five attempts to submit an acceptable draft in this latest effort.
Emigh’s problems began with the title of the proposal which Rutledge said in an April letter was “overly long and complicated.” The proposal was named “An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution legalizing gambling to the Fairplay Holdings ballot question committee members.” Rutledge informed Emigh, “The great majority of Arkansas voters are limited, as a practical matter, in the amount of time that can be spent considering such a proposal.” She added Emigh’s reference to the Fairplay Holdings “is wholly bereft of specifics as to how this committee is formed and who has the authority to form it.”
Even if Rutledge had approved the wording of Emigh’s proposal, he would have had to collect 84,859 signatures over at least 15 state counties in less than six months.
In September, a statewide poll found 49 percent of Arkansans opposed casino expansion, 38 percent supported it and 13 percent were undecided.
Currently in Arkansas, gambling is limited to parimutuel betting at racetracks. Two of the state’s tracks also offer video slots and other electronic gaming machines.
