Cherokee Nation Entertainment of Catoosa, Oklahoma has teamed up with Arkansas Wins In 2016, a group that’s running a petition drive to place a constitutional amendment allowing casino gambling on the November ballot. CNE, which owns and operates nine Oklahoma casinos, would operate the proposed casino in Washington County in northwest Arkansas. The development would require applying for land-to-trust status and it would be the first Cherokee Nation casino not built on tribal land.
If the ballot measure is approved, privately owned Arkansas casinos also would be built in Miller County and Boone County. The proposed amendment also would require the three casinos to pay an 18 percent net gambling tax to the state, 0.5 percent to the county and 1.5 percent to the host city. The measure also would create a five-member regulatory commission appointed by the governor.
Electronic gambling machines currently are allowed at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs and Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis.
State Attorney General Leslie Rutledge approved the wording of the proposal earlier this month. Arkansas Wins in 2016 must collect about 85,000 signatures by July 8 for the proposed constitutional amendment to appear on the November ballot. A similar proposal failed in 2012.
Spokesperson Robert Coon said, “Our intention from the outset of this campaign has been for the casinos authorized by this amendment to be operated by well-established and credible firms in the gaming industry. In addition to creating new opportunities for jobs, tourism and economic development, Cherokee Nation Entertainment brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the gaming industry to this effort.”
CNE Chief Executive Officer Shawn Slaton added, “It’s been an interest of ours for many years to leverage our nearly 30 years’ experience in gaming, hospitality and entertainment into markets outside of Oklahoma. This commercial gaming venture is a natural evolution of our business model that will be good for the state, northwest Arkansas and the Cherokee Nation. We employ thousands of people and are good community partners, and we look forward to extending that into Arkansas.”
