Once an entity became a casino applicant in May 2019, it had to obtain a letter of support from ‘the county judge.’ Ark. In other words, an entity could not become a ‘casino applicant’ until the ARC opened the application window in May 2019.
“…an entity is not a casino applicant until the application process commences. In layman’s terms, the court declared that until the application process was initiated by the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC), which oversees casino licensing regulation, there could be no applicants. Gulfside Casino Partnership focused on which entity was a legal applicant for a casino license. The high court’s ruling in Cherokee Nation Businesses and Arkansas Racing Commission vs. The dispute arises from actions taken soon after voters approved The Arkansas Casino Gaming Amendment, which requires the Racing Commission to issue licenses to Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs, Southland Racing Corporation in West Memphis, and to entities in Pope County and Jefferson County. The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation Businesses and against Gulfside Casino Partnership in a long-running controversial series of legal and regulatory challenges to place a casino in Pope County.
