Native American tribes also are expanding their gaming operations in the area of Western Arkansas. Following the Cherokee Nation’s million Cherokee Casino & Hotel in Roland, Oklahoma, located eight miles from Fort Smith, the 170,000 square foot facility now offers a convention center, expanded electronic and table games, dining and a 120-room hotel. A Cherokee casino also is located on the state line in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. Mark Fulton, chief executive officer of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, said, “Northeast Oklahoma, southeast Missouri and northwest Arkansas are really borders we look at. West Siloam Springs and Roland specifically border Arkansas and they are target areas.”
The Choctaw Nation recently opened a renovated 150,000 square foot facility in Pocola, Oklahoma. Its parking lot across the state line in Arkansas.
Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders said many visitors to the Cherokee casino live in Fort Smith. “They still do their shopping in Fort Smith. Fort Smith benefits from that standpoint. A majority of the cars in the Choctaw parking lot have Arkansas tags.” He noted Arkansans gamble in Oklahoma but hundreds work at the Oklahoma casinos and bring their paychecks back to Arkansas. However, he said, “It’s not a daily conversation, but I really think people make the assumption that the casinos are going to be in Oklahoma.”
Tim Allen, president of Fort Smith’s Chamber of Commerce, said until the state constitution is amended to allow casino gambling in Arkansas, it’s pointless to consider gambling in the state. “It’s a question a lot of communities face. Choctaw and others are expanding or growing. I don’t see it as an economic development tool. It’s a tourist aspect people enjoy. It’s part of the hospitality industry. That’s an important industry.”
A Cherokee Nation report showed the eight casinos under the Cherokee umbrella brought in $549.7 million in revenue for the fiscal year 2013, which ended Sept. 30.
