Hard Rock International and Warner Gaming announced Tuesday plans to jointly bid for a license for the development of a casino resort in Pope County, Arkansas
State voters approved last November a ballot measure that authorized the addition of full-scale casino gambling at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis and the development of two new casinos up from the ground in Pope and Jefferson Counties.
Warner Gaming and Hard Rock said in a Tuesday statement that they envision a complex for Arkansas River Valley that would include a casino, “the best-in-class” hotel, multiple food and beverage options, conference and live entertainment venues, and other amenities.
The joint statement of the two companies further read that they “aim to deliver to Pope County a facility that will attract visitors throughout the region and beyond” and that the “truly global reach” of the Hard Rock brand would help them do that.
Warner Gaming and Hard Rock have a history of successful collaborations. In 2014, Warner Gaming cut the ribbon on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, Iowa after the two major gaming and hospitality brands obtained a license in a highly competitive process.
Pope County Opposition
While Issue 4, the constitutional amendment that allotted four casino licenses, gained the necessary statewide support to pass, the majority of Pope County residents voted against the measure. County voters simultaneously passed a measure last fall which requires local approval of a county judge or a quorum court’s letters of support for operators interested to run a casino in the region.
Letters of support are among the documents that casino license applicants are required to submit to the Arkansas Racing Commission.
Pope County residents have shown firm determination to vote down any attempt for a casino to be brought to their county. Despite the clear opposition from county voters, Warner Gaming said Tuesday it was optimistic that it would present a proposal that would eventually appeal to River Valley locals. The company further pointed out that it would continue discussions with Pope County residents in the coming weeks so that the Warner Gaming and Hard Rock teams “get a feel for what the community would like to see in a project like this.”
Legal Challenge
Any attempts for the development of a casino in Pope County could be hampered by legal challenges of different nature. As mentioned above, under a measure approved by county residents, a majority of its registered voters must approve a letter of support for a casino by a county judge. Pope County Judge Ben Cross has said that the threshold imposed by the measure was close to impossible to reach.
Outgoing lawmakers and a county judge approved before stepping down a casino proposal for Pope County made by Mississippi-based Gulfside Casino Partnership. However, the Arkansas Racing Commission introduced later on rules that required casino proposals to be approved by officials in office when a license application is filed.
The state racing regulator is set to open the application process on May 1. Interested casino operators will have up to May 31 to submit their proposals with the commission.
Judge Cross said Tuesday that he expects the Gulfside Casino Partnership to sue after the approval of its casino bid was nixed and that this could result in a protracted legal battle that would prevent the opening of a casino in Pope County.
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