In less than two minutes, the Arkansas Joint Budget Committee’s Administrative Rule & Regulation Review Subcommittee approved 314 pages of rules regarding casino gambling. No questions were asked nor were any comments made by legislators or the public. The rules must take effect by March 12, according to Amendment 100 which voters passed in November allowing four casinos in the state: one each in Pope and Jefferson counties, and at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs and Southland Gaming and Racing in West Memphis which already have electronic games of skill and can expand to full casinos.
Scott Hardin, spokesman for the Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the Arkansas Racing Commission, the agency that will oversee casino licensing and regulation, said, “The commission is pleased with the approval of the rules and looks forward to the next phase of this process, accepting applications for casino gaming licenses,” which likely will begin in mid-April to May.
The public had the opportunity to comment on the casinos during a 30-day period that started January 13 and ended at a hearing on February 28. Harding said, “Public engagement has played a vital role in the process to this point and that influence will continue. While the rules are approved and will soon be effective, there are additional decisions that will have to be made as we implement Amendment 100. From the written comments to last week’s public hearing, the commission will continue to reference the guidance Arkansans provided.”
The Racing Commission received a total of 184 letters, which, along with oral comments made at the hearing, concerned Gulfside Properties’ proposed $254 casino and 600-room hotel in Russellville, Pope County. In response to widespread opposition to a casino there, the commission changed a rule that essentially invalidated letters of endorsement of the proposed casino resort from Russellville and Pope County officials just before they left office; endorsements from local officials are required under Amendment 100, but it doesn’t specify when those must be given. The new rule states endorsement letters must come only from current officials and only when a casino application is submitted. Current Pope County officials, Russellville Mayor Richard Harris and County Judge Ben Cross, who both took office January 1, said they support the commission’s revised rule.
