Gulfside Casino Partnership, located in Mississippi, remains determined in its efforts to establish and manage a commercial casino in Arkansas through Pope County.
Almost six years after voters statewide approved a casino license designated for Pope County via a ballot referendum, the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) is now accepting proposals for the state's only remaining gaming concession that offers slot machines, table games, and sports betting rights. Gulfside, a company overseen by riverboat gaming innovators Terry Green and Rick Carter, provided ARC last week with a revised proposal for its River Valley Casino Resort in Russellville.
The $405 million proposal features a 70,000-square-foot casino that will house around 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer table games, a sportsbook, and a hotel with 300 rooms. The resort would include meeting facilities, multiple dining options and lounges, an open-air amphitheater, as well as a wellness spa and gym.
The Gulfside proposal competes with another offer for the Pope casino license.
The Cherokee Nation Businesses, which is a branch of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, has proposed a $300 million project to ARC for evaluation. Named Legends Resort & Casino, the initiative aimed at Russellville would feature 50,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,200 slot machines, 32 gaming tables, sports wagering, several dining options and bars, plus a 200-room hotel with resort facilities.
Assistance from the Judiciary Required
The ballot referendum in 2018 that modified the Arkansas Constitution to allow commercial casino gambling in Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope counties mandates that casino proposals include a letter of endorsement from the sitting judge or quorum court of the respective county. At present, only the Legends plan possesses such an endorsement.
Pope County Judge Ben Cross and the Pope County Quorum Court both expressed their backing for the Cherokee plan last year. When ARC reopened bidding for the Pope casino earlier this month, it was believed that only the Cherokee proposal would be eligible for consideration.
The legal aspect hasn’t hindered Gulfside. The firm states it will request the county quorum court’s backing when it presents its argument to the 13-member group on June 6. Gulfside requires seven judges to back the casino for it to be eligible to present to ARC.
To enhance the agreement, Gulfside is providing the county a $65 million immediate payment upon obtaining the license. In addition to generating local taxes, the firm has committed to allocating $2 million each year to the county for economic development initiatives.
Unfazed Cross
Cross believes the quorum court should not support the Gulfside plan. He definitely will not support the River Valley plan.
"I’m satisfied with the relationship that Cherokee Nation Businesses built within the community over the last five years,” Cross explained. “I don’t anticipate issuing any more letters of support.”
Gulfside lawyer Casey Castleberry asserts that River Valley, a more extensive resort project with a better assurance for the county, ought to receive the court's support.
"We think that merits consideration,” Castleberry said last week during the resort’s unveiling. “It’s superior, frankly, to anything that’s been offered by any other potential applicant.”
ARC has set a deadline of June 11 for the submission of qualified casino proposals.