It is but a matter of time before Arkansas has several full-fledged casinos within its borders.
Plans are moving along rapidly for three of the four that state voters authorized when they passed Amendment 100 to the state constitution in 2018.
That fourth one may or may not happen. It is the intriguing piece of this particular puzzle because it was authorized by the statewide vote but has been blocked by the refusal of Pope County residents to buy in.
Here's where the situation stands:
The Arkansas Racing Commission adopted extensive regulations (300 pages of them) in late February that have since been before a state legislative committee for review. That had to happen before applications for licenses to run the casinos can be accepted.
A commission spokesman said recently that applications will be accepted beginning early in May.
Two of the locations are settled. The constitutional amendment specifically allowed licenses in Hot Springs and West Memphis, where long-existing thoroughbred horse and greyhound race tracks are located.
The new casino licenses will go to Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs and to Southland Gaming and Racing in West Memphis. Both will expand their offerings, which currently include electronic games of skill, to full-fledged, live casino gaming.
Both Oaklawn and Southland plan major hotel and gaming developments. Some of the casino changes could happen as soon as next month. But the major work will happen over summer.
Amendment 100 also will allow casino licenses to be issued in Pope and Jefferson counties; but the local response has been altogether different in each of the counties.
Jefferson wants one. Pope does not.
In those recently approved regulations, the racing commission agreed that endorsement letters required in the amendment must come from the current mayor and current county judge and be submitted at the time of application.
That threw a wrench in plans of Gulfside Casino Partnership to build a multimillion hotel and casino in Russellville.
The developers had managed to secure endorsement letters from the outgoing mayor and county judge as their terms were expiring at the end of 2018, which enraged casino opponents in Pope County.
No only did voters there reject Amendment 100, they also passed a local ordinance requiring local officials to get voter approval before endorsing a proposed casino.
The current county judge and mayor are siding solidly with their constituents, refusing to endorse any proposals.
The number of proposals is up to five now and all say they'll apply with or without an endorsement letter.
The Gulfside developers have maintained that the earlier endorsements from a lame-duck mayor and a lame-duck county judge should be accepted.
If not, the developers say they will sue to get this sorted out in court.
For the record, state lawmakers considered a bill to give that proposed casino in Pope County to neighboring Johnson County. That hasn't worked either, so the question remains as to whether Arkansas will see three or four casinos when this is all settled.
Meanwhile, the push is on to get the last of the proposed casinos up and operating in Pine Bluff.
The Quapaw Nation is proposing to operate the Saracen Casino Resort, names after a Quapaw chief who was buried in Pine Bluff. The county judge and mayor have endorsed the project.
Assuming the license is approved, the Quapaw hope to have the Pine Bluff casino floor open in just 10 months and the rest of the resort six months later.
Next month, they even plan a town-hall meeting to kick things off.
That's quite a contrast to the reaction in Russellville and Pope County to a casino there.
It is a difference that should be honored.
Pope County simply shouldn't be forced to accept a casino if the majority of people there don't want it.
Apparently, it will be a while before they do.
Commentary on 03/20/2019