Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge recently certified the popular name and ballot title of an amendment that would authorize casinos in Washington, Boone and Miller counties in northwest Arkansas. Rutledge previously rejected an earlier version of the wording in May, stating it contained ambiguous language and that the title did not properly summarize the proposed amendment. The ballot language was submitted by Cal McCastlain on behalf of the committee Arkansas Wins in 2016.
In addition allowing the casinos, the proposal calls for three limited liability companies to run them. It also would create a five-member state gaming commission, appointed by the governor. And it would require each casino to pay the state an 18 percent tax on gambling proceeds, 0.5 percent to the county and 1.5 percent to the local government.
Now supporters must begin gathering the signatures of 84,869 registered Arkansas voters by the July 8 deadline in order for the measure to be placed on the November ballot. A statement from Arkansas Wins in 2016 said it is “grateful for the attorney general’s timely approval of our amendment language, and we look forward to beginning the signature gathering process to put this issue on the ballot in November. We believe that this amendment can serve as a catalyst for economic development, job creation, tourism and increased tax revenues for the state, cities and counties, and expect that voters will agree.”
