The Arkansas Supreme Court has upheld the wording of a ballot measure that seeks to revoke the license issued for a planned casino, despite efforts to disqualify the proposal. In a 6-1 ruling, the justices rejected a lawsuit claiming that the proposed constitutional amendment was flawed. The license for the casino in Pope County was issued to Cherokee Nation Entertainment earlier this year.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment, along with the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee, challenged the measure in court. The lawsuit alleged errors and misleading information in the proposed amendment. However, the court ruled that the popular name and ballot title were clear and impartial in presenting the amendment to voters, according to Justice Karen Baker in the majority opinion.
The amendment aims to revoke the license for a Pope County casino, which has faced legal challenges for years. This casino was one of four locations approved for casino construction by voters in 2018, with the other three locations already operational. The campaign surrounding the casino amendment has been costly, with millions of dollars spent by various parties on both sides of the issue.
Supporters of the amendment welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, emphasizing that it empowers communities to have a say in whether casinos are established in their area. The dissenting opinion from Justice Shawn Womack argued that the ballot measure was misleading as it did not clearly indicate the revocation of Pope County’s existing license.
The proposed amendment not only targets the current casino authorization in Pope County but also mandates that future casino licenses must be endorsed by voters in the respective county. The Supreme Court’s ruling sets the stage for a significant decision that could impact the future of casino operations in Arkansas.