Oklahoma tribes compete for commercial casino in Arkansas

Monday, November 25, 2019  

The Cherokee Nation and the Choctaw Nation continue to compete for a commercial casino in Arkansas even as one of their fellow Oklahoma-based tribes is already in the game.

The Cherokees and the Choctaws have submitted applications to the Arkansas State Racing Commission. Each seeks to build a facility in Pope County.

Both tribes, however, were initially rejected by the commission because their applications were deemed incomplete. At issue was the lack of support for their proposals from a local official.

Cherokee Nation Businesses has since resubmitted an application with at least two letters of support, according to news reports. The Choctaw Nation also updated its application but without the same type of endorsement.

"We hope that the state will take action to allow all proposals to receive fair consideration," Janie Dillard, the tribe's senior executive director of commerce, told The Arkansas Democrat Gazette when asked about the lack of local support.

Only one license will be awarded for a casino in Pope County. It will be one of four located around the state as part of a ballot initiative approved by voters in November 2018.

Meanwhile, the Quapaw Nation, also based in Oklahoma, already won the license for a facility in Jefferson County. The tribe began offering gaming at a small property there on October 1, ahead of plans to open the much larger Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff next summer.

Jefferson County is southeast of Little Rock, the capital and most populous city in the state. Jefferson County lies to the northwest.

Cherokees file revised application for casino license (The Arkansas Democrat Gazette November 16, 2019)
Choctaw tribe files for casino, but Pope County support lacking (The Arkansas Democrat Gazette November 19, 2019)
Judge Tim Fox puts off resolution of casino lawsuit (The Arkansas Times November 25, 2019)
Pope County casino plans face setback in pending lawsuit (KATV November 25, 2019)

Quapaw Nation debuts casino on ancestral territory in Arkansas (October 1, 2019)
Quapaw Nation announces groundbreaking for casino on ancestral territory (July 29, 2019)
Quapaw Nation returns home with gaming project in Arkansas (June 13, 2019)
Quapaw Nation ready to break ground on commercial casino in Arkansas (February 25, 2019)
Quapaw Nation reaches deal to sell land as it pursues casino in Arkansas (January 16, 2019)
Quapaw Nation awaits decision on gaming license in Arkansas (December 12, 2018)
Quapaw Nation wins endorsement to operate commercial casino in Arkansas (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)