Arkansas Panel Awards Cherokee Nation Entertainment License to Build Casino
The Arkansas Racing Commission has granted Cherokee Nation Entertainment a license to construct a casino in Pope County, marking the final casino permit allowed by a 2018 constitutional amendment. With a unanimous vote, the Commission awarded the license after years of legal disputes.
The casino project, to be developed in the vicinity of Russellville, will feature a 50,000-square-foot gaming area, along with a 200-room hotel, a conference center, and an outdoor music venue. Following the award of the license, Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, expressed readiness to proceed with construction.
Although the decision marks significant progress, the project may still face challenges. A group supported by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is working to introduce a measure on the November ballot that, if passed, could result in the revocation of the Pope County license. The group must gather a minimum of 90,704 valid signatures from registered voters by July 5 to meet the submission deadline.
This development follows the reopening of the casino application process last year after a legal ruling annulled Cherokee Nation’s previous license. A competing proposal was deemed incomplete earlier as it lacked essential county support.
The Arkansas Racing Commission awarded the license to Cherokee Nation Entertainment following a thorough evaluation of their application. This decision marks the fourth and final casino license issued under the 2018 constitutional amendment, with casinos already operational in three other designated locations.
