Arkansas Commission votes to approve Cherokee Nation casino licence

The Arkansas Racing Commission has voted in favour of granting a casino license that will allow the Cherokee Nation to build and operate a casino in Pope County. This will be the last of the four casinos authorised in 2018 to the Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Businesses, following a constitutional amendment. In the three years since, casinos have opened at Hot Springs, Pine Bluff and West Memphis. In October, the State’s Supreme Court ruled that serving elected local officials must endorse any casino application, and the Cherokee Nation Business proposal had the backing of Pope County’s Judge. Commenting on this breakthrough decision, Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, said: “We are eager to put forth our large-scale development plans to the Russellville Planning Commission, and ultimately, for litigation to come to an end so that we can proceed with construction.”