Latest news with #ArkansasRacingCommission
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal trial underway to restore Pope County casino license or keep it revoked
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The bet to restore a casino license in Pope County is underway in federal court. The bench trial started Tuesday in Little Rock and will continue through Thursday or Friday. Guessing how this will end has been like watching a roulette wheel spin for years. It has been spinning since 2018 when Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 100 opened the door to four casinos in the state. Cherokee Nation denied temporary restraining order against Pope County casino license removal Three have been operating for years, but the only player able to build in Pope County got their license revoked during the 2024 election cycle by amendment 104. Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) sued Arkansas over Amendment 104 claiming it undermines foundational legal rights and interferes with several binding contractual obligations. Voters passing it took away the Arkansas Racing Commission's authority to issue a casino license in Pope County under Amendment 100. It also made county approval a final requirement for any future state constitutional amendment to add casinos statewide. On Tuesday, CNB CEO Chuck Garrett testified against its license revocation. He said they worked to get local support from Pope County's judge and quorum court. He argued they signed a multi-million-dollar economic agreement and purchased land. Other Pope County casino applicants from the original five slowed CNB's efforts by getting separate approval, and on Wednesday witnesses called to testify showed that happened with Amendment 104. Cherokee Nation files suit against Arkansas after Issue 2 passage revokes Pope County casino license Hans Stiritz began an effort to stop the casino under a group called Fair Play for Arkansas in 2020. It failed. In 2022 Fair Play tried again, but this time it got millions in funding from Choctaw Nation, a rival casino applicant for Pope County which lost the license battle. It failed again to get signatures in 2022 but returned in 2024 and rebranded as Local Voters in Charge. Stiritz and Bill James, the treasurer of the group, testified the change was made to get more people caring about their cause, not just Pope County's. The change was also with the recommendation of a consultant Choctaw donations funded. One of the attorneys representing Choctaw and assisting Local Voters in Charge testified Wednesday along with the Arkansas Racing Commission Chairman Alex Lieblong. CNB attorneys argued there should have been a way for Pope County voters to decide on the future of the casino license already awarded to CNB with the passage of Amendment 104. The only provision for that to occur is in the case of a future Arkansas constitutional amendment. Voters in Pope County effectively voted against a local casino during Amendment 100 but for it in Amendment 104. Issue 2 passing gets mixed reaction from Pope County community David Couch, who worked with CNB to counter the license-revoking amendments, also testified. Attorneys for the state did not cross-examine every witness. They asked Couch if there was any language in Amendment 100 that would make the license permanent. He answered that he thought so. What the judge thinks will be key to how this case is decided. Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. said at the end of proceedings Wednesday that he likes to rule from the bench but feels this case is too complex for him to do that. He stated he would like some post-trial briefings from the defense and plaintiffs, but there would be a short deadline so that he could issue an opinion in weeks as opposed to months. Four witnesses, including Pope County Judge Ben Cross, should testify Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. with closing arguments in the afternoon or Friday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to bring online gaming to Arkansas filed in legislature
Video: Sports betting is getting much easier, will that change us? LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill filed Wednesday in the Arkansas legislature would legalize online gaming in the state. House Bill 1861 states two goals. Its first goal is to make any out-of-state online gaming provider the same as anyone operating an illegal gambling house or game in Arkansas. The second goal is to permit any Arkansas casino license holder to provide online games of chance. Saracen Casino requests change in Arkansas law to allow online gambling If the bill becomes law, the Arkansas Racing Commission would need to approve legal gaming systems. One such system could include a name, image, and likeness raffle. Any current commission rules would extend to the online system called 'interactive gaming.' The bill has 20 cosponsors alongside its lead sponsor, Rep. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville), and primary sponsor, Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville). Wallace had filed an identical bill in the Senate as its lead sponsor and Duffield as its primary sponsor, but that bill was withdrawn Thursday morning. Saracen Casino requests change in Arkansas law to allow online gambling The bill includes an emergency clause, meaning if it receives enough votes in the legislature and is signed into law by the governor, it would go into immediate effect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arkansas Name, Image, Likeness raffle bill fails in committee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill for funding student-athletes failed in committee on Wednesday afternoon. House Bill 1044 would have allowed higher education or affiliated non-profits to hold raffles on game day to fund scholarships or pay athletes for using their name, image or likeness (NIL). Additional Arkansas constitutional amendments filed in legislature Typically, institutions hold a 50/50 raffle on gameday, where 50% of the proceeds go to the person holding the winning ticket, and 50% goes to the institution. Testimony during the House Rules Committee meeting was that universities planned to use an app on game day to support the raffle. Testimony against the bill included that from a representative of Saracen Casino, which had earlier offered to conduct NIL raffles through its app. In September, Saracen Casino officials proposed to state gaming officials that it could implement a 50/50 NIL online raffle, arguing that it would stop illegal offshore casinos from offering the raffles, raising Arkansas tax revenue. Bill filed in Arkansas legislature to allow NIL 50/50 raffles by colleges, universities The Arkansas Racing Commission did not entertain Saracen's proposal. Oaklawn Casino officials opposed implementing NIL raffles since Saracen's NIL model included iGaming, such as online slot machines. Fluoride bill fails in Arkansas Legislature committee In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of using NIL for student-athletes to make money while playing for a school. Previously student-athletes were not allowed to be paid, which the court felt was outdated in making its ruling. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
