Quapaw Nation wins endorsement to operate commercial casino in Arkansas

Tuesday, December 4, 2018  

The Quapaw Nation continues to move forward with plans for a commercial casino in Arkansas.

The tribe's Downstream Development Authority has been endorsed as the operator for a new facility in Jefferson County. The area was once home to the Quapaw people and Chief Saracen was laid to rest there in 1832 at the age of 97.

“As the original homeland for the Quapaw Nation, we believe we have an obligation to the region to be good corporate citizens,” Chairman John Berrey said in a press release on Monday. “This casino resort will be a source of pride for the community. It will create hundreds of jobs and generate millions of dollars in taxes that will help improve the city's and county’s infrastructure and quality of life.”

The Saracen Casino Resort would be named after the late chief. Though the Arkansas Racing Commission must still award the license for the project, Berrey believes it could be open by late 2019.

The casino in Jefferson County was authorized by voters through Issue 4 on the November 6 ballot. The initiative passed with 55 percent of the vote.

The Quapaw Nation and the Cherokee Nation were the two primary financial backers of the Driving Arkansas Forward campaign. They spent nearly $6 million on the effort.

Issue 4 authorized a total of four casinos in Arkansas. Two would be located at existing racetracks.

Both tribes operate casinos in neighboring Oklahoma.

Local leaders select Quapaw Nation as casino operator for Jefferson County (The Arkansas Times December 3, 2018)
Local Leaders OK Quapaw Casino for Pine Bluff (The Arkansas Business Times December 3, 2018)
Downstream Development Authority selected to bring new casino to Jefferson County (KATV December 3, 2018)
Quapaw Nation’s Downstream enterprise selected by Pine Bluff, Jefferson County to lead casino efforts (Talk Business & Politics December 3, 2018)
‘Downstream’ selected as operator for PB casino (The Pine Bluff Commercial December 3, 2018)
Pine Bluff casino plan gets letters of support; mayor, county judge tout proposal (The Arkansas Democrat Gazette December 4, 2018)

Quapaw Nation moves forward with casino bid after victory at polls (November 8, 2018)
Cherokee Nation and Quapaw Tribe secure victory with gaming initiative (November 7, 2018)
Election Day: #NativeVote18 races to watch across the nation (November 6, 2018)
Cherokee Nation and Quapaw Tribe spend nearly $6 million on gaming campaign (October 31, 2018)
Cherokee Nation and Quapaw Tribe continue to donate big to campaign (October 16, 2018)
Tribes still need more signatures in push for casinos in Arkansas (July 26, 2018)
Cherokee Nation and Quapaw Tribe spend big on casino push in Arkansas (July 17, 2018)
Quapaw Tribe sees another setback with gaming bid in Arkansas (March 14, 2018)
Quapaw Tribe joins partnership to authorize up to three casinos in Arkansas (January 9, 2018)
Quapaw Tribe blames non-Indian track for opposition in Arkansas (March 4, 2016)
Quapaw Tribe seeks to acquire more ancestral land in Arkansas (February 18, 2016)
Quapaw Tribe hits snag in agreement for ancestral Arkansas land (January 21, 2016)
Quapaw Tribe works on agreement for ancestral Arkansas land (November 10, 2015)
Quapaw Tribe still vows no casino on ancestral land in Arkansas (November 3, 2015)
Quapaw Tribe still willing to sign no-casino pledge in Arkansas (August 31, 2015)