Arkansas voters to decide on repealing Pope County casino license in 2024 election

The ballot issue was challenged with a lawsuit, but the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the challenge. This means that the way things stand now, votes on Issue 2 will be counted.

If approved by voters, Issue 2 would stop a planned casino in Pope County near Russellville.

In order for another casino to ever open in Arkansas, Issue 2 would require voter approval in a future statewide election and then additional voter approval in the specific county where the casino would be located.

Arguments in favor

In 2018, 54% of Arkansas voters approved an amendment that allowed four casinos to be built in the state.

According to the Arkansas secretary of state's office, back then, 60% of voters in Pope County voted against the casino measure.

"Issue 2 is based upon a really, a very, very simple premise that local voters, the people within the communities that are potentially affected by casino projects, those are the people who should have the final say on whether the casino project goes forward or not, and it really is that simple," Hans Stiritz, with Local Voters in Charge, said.

The organization Local Voters in Charge is behind the ballot initiative.

According to financial filings with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, the Choctaw Nation is behind Local Voters in Charge, with donations totaling more than $5.6 million to the organization trying to stop the fourth casino from opening in Arkansas.

"There are folks that want to say that this is just about Pope County, but really, it is a much bigger issue than just Pope County," Striritz said.

Other groups in Arkansas oppose legalized gambling. The Arkansas Problem Gambling Council has seen a 22% increase in calls for help this year, according to KATV, the ABC affiliate in Little Rock.

Arguments against

"Ironically, a yes is a no vote, and a no is a yes vote," Pope County Judge Ben Cross said. "Myself and six mayors in Pope County are all going to vote no to this because this is some of the greatest economic development in our generation for Pope County and for the surrounding communities of the River Valley. If you took the word casino out of the equation and said any other industry is going to come into your community and produce a thousand new jobs and invest over $300 million initially — that's just on the front end — people would be standing in line for the ribbon cutting."

Cross says many opinions have changed since Pope County voters were against the measure in 2018.

"The local voters spoke. 12 out of 13 justices of the peace on the Pope County Quorum Court have voted in favor of a casino resort in Pope County," Cross said. "That means a new jail for Pope County. That means a new health department for Pope County. That means a new 911 system for Pope County."

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, in fiscal year 2024, the three existing casinos in Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and West Memphis contributed $107 million in tax revenue to the state. Out of that amount, the local counties and cities where the casinos are located received nearly $30 million.

"It is about another casino operator who didn't get the license in Pope County, who now wants to make sure that nobody gets any of those dollars and that those dollars stay in Oklahoma," said Natalie Ghidotti with Investing in Arkansas. The organization opposes Issue 2 and is largely funded by the Cherokee Nation, which received the coveted and heavily contested casino license.

"Here's the truth — it sounds good. They're saying it's local control. It's anything but local control, in our opinion, because you have the Choctaw Nation funding that entire campaign," Ghidotti said.