FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — As Arkansas voters prepare to head to the polls on Nov. 5, a proposed amendment seeks to eliminate the Pope County casino license.The upcoming vote on Issue 2 could reshape the state’s gambling landscape by requiring local voter approval for any future casino licenses.What is it?This proposed amendment aims to remove the casino license for Pope County from the Arkansas Constitution and require local voters to approve any future casino licenses in their counties.This amendment changes the Arkansas Constitution to reduce the number of casino licenses from four to three, eliminate the Pope County casino license and require a special election for voters to approve future casino licenses in their counties. Arkansas Supreme Court denies second part of attempt to block casino amendment vote What does your vote mean?FOR: You support removing the Pope County casino license and want future casinos to need local voter approval.AGAINST: You want to keep the Pope County casino license and don’t think future casinos should need local voter approval.Will the votes be counted?Yes, all votes cast for and against Issue 2 will be counted. The Arkansas Supreme Court rejected all challenges to Issue 2 on Oct. 17.What’s being proposed?The sponsors of this amendment want to:Remove the Pope County casino license from the Arkansas Constitution.Cancel any existing Pope County casino licenses.Require local voters to approve any new casinos in their county through a special election.Specify how the ballot should look for these future elections.Make sure the amendment takes effect after the upcoming election.Voters approved the Pope County casino license in 2018, and the only way to stop it is through another statewide vote. Where to vote in Northwest Arkansas and River Valley How did this issue get on the ballot?Issue 2 is a citizen-initiated measure. To get on the ballot, supporters collected signatures from 90,704 Arkansas voters, which is 10% of the votes cast for governor in the last election.To pass, this amendment needs a majority vote on Election Day, which is Nov. 5, 2024.When did Arkansas last vote on this issue?Arkansas voters approved the original casino amendment (Amendment 100) in 2018 with 54.1% voting in favor. This amendment allowed four casinos, including one in Pope County, which 61% of voters opposed.What’s the current status of the Pope County casino license?Amendment 100 set rules for applying for the Pope County casino license, which has faced legal challenges.The Arkansas Racing Commission awarded the license to Cherokee Nation Businesses for Legends Resort & Casino, but previous attempts to license it were blocked by court rulings.Cherokee Nation is planning to build a casino and resort northeast of Russellville with various amenities, expected to take about 18 months to complete. Who is running for mayor in Northwest Arkansas Legal IssuesGulfside Casino Partnership is currently suing to challenge the recent decision to award the license to Cherokee Nation, seeking to overturn it.What else do I need to know?The Pope County casino license has faced significant legal challenges since the passage of Amendment 100.This amendment required applicants to demonstrate gaming experience and obtain local support from officials. Both Gulfside Casino Partnership and Cherokee Nation Businesses had their licenses voided by the Arkansas Supreme Court due to eligibility issues.In June 2024, the Arkansas Racing Commission reopened the application process. Cherokee Nation Entertainment received approval for the Legends Resort & Casino project, which includes a gaming area, hotel, and outdoor venue. Who is on the Arkansas presidential ballot? Gulfside Casino Partnership is currently suing to challenge this decision, alleging that a 2019 economic development agreement restricts competition for local support.If Issue 2 passes, it will eliminate the Pope County casino license and potentially render Gulfside’s lawsuit moot. The amendment will not affect existing licenses in Crittenden, Garland or Jefferson counties.View the complete text2024-046_casinoDownloadSign up for newsletters from KNWA/FOX24, your Local Election Headquarters, here.Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
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