The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday it will not rehear a lower court decision that blocked granting of a casino license in Pope County to Cherokee Nation Businesses. The rehearing denial officially sends the license process back to the Arkansas Racing Commission.
Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox ruled in January 2023 that Arkansas officials “unconstitutionally” granted a casino license to Cherokee Nation Businesses. Gulfside Casino Partnership had appealed a November 2021 decision by the ARC to grant the Pope County license to Cherokee Nation Businesses and its Legends Resort and Casino company.
The Cherokee Nation proposal was approved in a narrow 3-2 Racing Commission vote after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled ineligible the Gulfside Casino Partnership proposal in late October 2021.
