In Arkansas, a spokesman for the state racing commission said the state’s two racetracks most likely will start offering table games and sports betting next month and the commission will begin accepting casino license applications in early May. Last November voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the state’s two racinos to expand gambling operations and permitting one casino in both Pope and Jefferson counties.
Scott Hardin, spokesman for the state Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the Racing Commission, said the thoroughbred track Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs and the greyhound track Southland Gaming and Racing in West Memphis must submit their sports book plans for commission approval before they can offer sports betting.
Glen White, a spokesman for Delaware North, which has owned and operated the 63-year-old Southland venue since the mid-1970s, said a $250 million expansion at Southland will include a 20-story hotel, player lounge and new dining options. In addition, hundreds of new gambling machines and 60 table games with live blackjack, craps and roulette will be available in April. “At this time we don’t have an opening date for the sportsbook. We are working toward beginning construction this summer on the new gaming complex and hotel and will be adding surface parking this spring to offset the parking that will be lost from that construction,” White said.
Oaklawn Park plans to invest more than $100 million to add another 28,000 square feet of gambling, multipurpose event center, luxury spa and 200-room hotel.
Regarding the casino licenses in Pope and Jefferson counties, Hardin said, “The racing commission looks forward to opening the application process. We anticipate applications will be accepted beginning in early May. The timetable for review of those applications will be determined by the total number received.”
New casino regulation rules recently approved by the legislature include a change made in response to public demands; now the required endorsements for casinos in the two counties must come from current county or city officials and only may be submitted at the time of application. Former Pope County and Russellville officials, just before leaving office, had endorsed Gulfside Casino Partnership’s proposal to build a $254 million, 600-room casino resort in Russellville.
Pope County Judge Ben Cross said he expects applications to be submitted for the Pope County license, even though they will lack endorsements from local government officials. That’s because Cross and Russellville Mayor Richard Harris said they will follow the will of Pope County voters who rejected the amendment in November and have strongly opposed a casino in the county.
Cross recently said at least five groups have pitched casino proposals but stated he will not sign a “letter for anybody.” He said, “They’re very reputable vendors. I’ve been impressed by what they offered, but I’m still representing the 62 percent of the people who said they don’t want a casino here. I will just let litigation take its course.” He stated the five vendors “expressed that they’re going to show up without a letter of support to be told no. They all want a fair playing field.”
Cross said he only would support any casino application if county voters support a casino in a local referendum. “These conditional ifs and buts letters just open a whole new avenue. There’s nothing for me to gain out of this,” he said. An attorney for Gulfside previously said the company would sue if endorsements from former officials are not accepted.
In Jefferson County, Quapaw Nation Chairman John Berrey said he has endorsements from current Jefferson County and Pine Bluff officials for the proposed Saracen Casino Resort, named for a Quapaw chief buried in Pine Bluff. Berrey said local contractors are lined up to build the proposed $240 million venue. “There is a lot of excitement. We’re on track. It’s going very well. We’re still working on design, but it’s going good. My hope is that the casino floor will be open within 10 months and then another six months for the rest,” he said.
