Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has spent millions of dollars meddling in the affairs of Pope County, Arkansas.

April 21, 2024

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has spent millions of dollars meddling in the affairs of Pope County, Arkansas.They want to stop a casino from being built there.

Most of Choctaw’s money in Pope County has gone to petition campaigns to remove the constitutional authorization for a casino in Pope County. In 2022, they “donated” almost $4 million.

So far, their contributions are up to $650,000 for this year’s drive.

It’s rumored they will spend up to $10 million on it.

Stopping the Pope County casino will deprive the entire state of significant amounts of future revenue.

After the casino opens, projections are that taxes on casino gaming alone will pump as much as $34 million every year into Arkansas’ general revenue.

These projections do not include other revenues, such as state taxes on goods and services or the income tax the casino and its employees would pay.

They also do not include revenues going to Pope County or to Russellville.

Choctaw claims it is doing this because a casino in Pope County would cost its Oklahoma casino business $13 million annually.

Choctaw has been meddling in Pope County since its attempts to acquire the Pope County casino license failed in 2019.

(see https://fairplayforarkansas2022.com/rejected/)

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Info and Quick Links

An unofficial repository of material and links related to Pope County.

The blog is a reverse chronological compilation of posts, social media posts, and new ongoing material. Commenting is intentionally turned off.

Pope Count official website
Quorum Court—Justices of the Peace, phone numbers, and email
Association of Arkansas Counties website
Casino Gaming License, November 12, 2021
Amendment 100, Amendment 100.
Casino Gaming Rules of The State of Arkansas – Arkansas Racing Commission, effective the second week of March 2019
Economic Development Agreement between CNB and Pope County.
Arkansas Municipal League website
Russellville Stuff
Search Public Records—Use this to search for existing permits, plans, inspections, code cases, requests and licenses.
ReImagine Russellville 2040—September 2020, a narrative report on the Comprehensive Plan for Russellville. The plan serves as an official policy statement of the City of Russellville for directing growth and development within its city limits and planning area.

Litigation

  1. There are currently NO active cases related to the Pope County Casino. There have been 18 cases filed so far, including appeals:
    1. 58CV-18-768—Knight v. Gibson; filed 12-27-2018
    2. 58CV-19-439—CFABPC & Knight v Cross et al. filed 8-13-2019.
    3. 60CV-19-5832—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 8-15-2019.  This was a judicial review of the ARC denial of Gulfside’s application.  Judge Tim Fox ruled in favor of Gulfside. This ruling was reversed and remanded by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Fox again ruled in favor of Gulfside.  The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed his ruling and dismissed the case.
    4. 60CV-19-5858—Knight et al v.ARC, filed 8-15-2019
    5. 58CV-19-462—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 8-22-2019. A week after 60CV-19-5832 was filed in Pulaski County, Judge Tim Fox said the proper venue was Pope County and sent it there, where it was filed under this case number. Judge William Pearson found that the proper venue was Pulaski County.  The case was returned to Pulaski County, where it was refiled under the original case number and Judge. filed 8-22-2019
    6. CV-19-968—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 12-23-2019
    7. 60CV-19-9172—CFABPC & Knight v. ARC, filed  12-27-2019
    8. CV-20-145—CFABPC & Knight v Cross et al., filed 3-2-2020
    9. CV-20-211—CNB v. Gulfside, filed 4-2-2020
    10. CV-20-438—CNB v. ADFA, filed 7-8-2020
    11. 58CV-20-429—Cross et al. v. ARC, filed 10-13-2020
    12. 60CV-21-1217—Legends et al v. ARC et al., filed 2-16-2021
    13. 60CV-21-1653—Gulfside v. ARC, filed 3-09-2021
    14. CV-21-289—CNB v. Gulfside, filed 6-28-2021
    15. 60CV-21-7742—Goodin v. ARC, filed 12-7-2021
    16. CV-23-50—Legends v. Gulfside, filed 1-26-2023
    17. CV-23-541—Knight v. ARC, filed 8-11-2023
    18. 60CV-23-7266—Goodin & Thone v. ARC, filed 9-25-2023

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Your voter registration information at Arkansas Secretary of State website: address, party association, ballot statuses, and polling place locations – also all of the districts that are applicable for your location.

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Arkansas Department of Transportation

I Drive Arkansas, traffic conditions, traffic cameras, etc.

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Arkansas Codes

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Arkansas Constitution

Article 5 § 1 – Initiative and Referendum–“no local legislation shall be enacted contrary to the Constitution or any general law of the State, and any general law shall have the effect of repealing any local legislation which is in conflict therewith.
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Legends Resort & Casino | Arkansas

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