This is the closest I’ve been able to find so far as an “official” 90 day review period.
A June 13, 2019, Talk Business & Politics article, State Racing Commission approves Pine Bluff casino license, rejects five bids for Pope County, talks about why none of the Pope County casino applications were accepted and reopening the application process if an applicant receive the required local support document(s).
After naming the five applications requesting casino permits in Pope County, Freeland told the gaming panel that none of the proposals had received letters of recommendations from current local city officials or the county judge where the casinos would be located.
Freeland also told the commissioners that Act 371 by Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, was approved by the legislature during the recent 2019 regular session with an emergency clause that led the bill to become law immediately in March. He said that legislation makes clear that approval for a casino in either Pope or Jefferson County must come from the local quorum court, county judge or mayor at the time an application is made for a casino license.
“So, the recommendation is that all five of these applications be denied as being incomplete under the Arkansas Racing Commission’s (rules) and the Arkansas law passed in Act 371,” said Freeland. “I also recommend that if a casino in Pope County in the future receives the support that the Racing Commission reopen the process for some period that you will establish 30 to 90 days that will give the applicants an opportunity to acquire a letter issued by the county judge or mayor.”
Before the gaming commission decided on the Pope County applicants, attorney Casey Castleberry spoke on behalf of Gulfport, Miss.-based Gulfside Casino Partnership that has announced plans to build a $250 million casino complex in Russellville. Castleberry said he wanted to make it clear for the record that Gulfside officials believe the commission’s rule and Davis’ bill approved are both unconstitutional.
“We may challenge that,” said Castleberry, adding that Arkansas gaming rules also state that each Pope County casino applicant submit to an interview.