Cherokee Nation Businesses recently issued a report by the Economic Impact Group (EIG) indicating its proposed casino resort in Russellville, Arkansas would generate $3.15 billion in economic activity in its first 10 years of operation.
CNB Chief Executive Officer Chuck Garrett said that was a “conservative” estimate. “In forming our plans for Legends Resort and Casino, we turned to a network of experts to help us understand how this project would impact the region’s economy,” he said. “It was fitting for us to engage this research through Dr. Russell Evans and EIG who are already very familiar with current CNB operations.”
For the study, EIG used data on six Oklahoma counties, noting Muskogee and Washington counties are similar to Pope County, Arkansas. According to the report:
- In the first year of casino-resort operations, 1,750 jobs would be created, with $43.3 million in employee income
- In the first 10 years, 21,000 jobs would be created, with $530 million in income
- Pope County would collect $4.3 million in casino taxes in the first year and $5.8 million in the 10th, with a total of $52.3 million through the first 10 years
- The venue would make $296 million in purchases from vendors in the first 10 years
According to the study, local tax collections, economic development fees and community grant support would total $111 million over the venue’s first decade. CNB also would pay Pope County a $38.8 million economic development fee, plus an annual grant of $2 million for community development.
CNB was expecting a decision from the Arkansas Racing Commission on its application for a casino license—the tribe’s first casino venture outside of Oklahoma. But on January 3, Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen granted the anti-casino group Citizens for a Better Pope County’s request for a temporary restraining order.
The group argued the racing commission had broken its rules by allowing a second permit application period, which would have been legal only if no applications were received during the first application period. However, during the initial application period the racing commission received five applications, including CNB’s, but they all were rejected because none were endorsed by current county officials, as required under racing commission regulations. CNB submitted an application during the second filing period that included the required endorsements. No hearing date has been scheduled.
In October 2018, Arkansas voters passed Amendment 100, allowing new casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties and permitting horseracing tracks at Hot Springs and West Memphis to offer casino gambling. Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, will open later this year.
