POPE COUNTY, Ark. — Casinos in Pope County are facing another hurdle after the Arkansas Racing Commission voted on Thursday to deny five applications for casino licenses.
The Racing Commission voted to deny the applications because none of them had a necessary letter of recommendation from the Pope County Judge. Thursday’s denial doesn’t mean Pope County will never get a casino, but it does mean current applications will be tossed out.
“The commission made the decision today to deny those five applications for Pope County all due to the fact that they don’t have that required letter of support from current leaders,” Arkansas Racing Commission Spokesperson Scott Hardin, said.
The racing commission initially asked applicants to submit letters of recommendation from The Pope County Judge and the Mayor of the city where the casinos were planned to be built.
“What the commission did say, is though we are willing to reopen this process if by some reason you obtain that letter of support a month from now, come back to us and we’ll reopen this process,” Hardin said.
Casey Castleberry, the attorney for one of the applicants, Gulfside Casino Partnership, was also present for Thursday’s meeting to show opposition to the decision.
“We would potentially challenge the rule, there was a meeting a few months ago where we laid out the reasons why we think the rule doesn’t comply with the constitution,” Castleberry said.
Gulfside Casino Partnership submitted a letter of recommendation from the previous Pope County Judge while he was still in office.
“We are the only applicant that has met all the qualifications set out in the amendment. I believe we are the only ones that would have standing to challenge the rulings today,” Castleberry said.
The Arkansas Racing Commission said it will reopen the application process if any company obtains that required letter of support. If a company does obtain the letter of support, the commission will reopen the application period for ninety days to any company.
The applicants who were reviewed for casino licenses:
- River Valley Casino Resort (Gulfside Casino Partnership)
- Hard Rock Arkansas (Tri-Peaks Entertainment Group, LLC)
- Diamond Ridge Casino & Resort (Cherokee Nation Businesses)
- Pope County Casino & Resort Proposal (Choctaw Nation- Tvshka Gaming, LLC)
- River Ridge Casino Resort, LLC (Kehl Family)