Arkansas casino campaign drops appeal

The Arkansas Wins in 2020 campaign for the legalisation of 16 more casinos in the state has revoked its appeal.

US.- Campaigners have dropped their attempt to appeal against Secretary of State John Thurston’s refusal to certify the signatures it acquired to put a casino amendment on the November ballot.

The Arkansas Wins in 2020 campaign had aimed to put forward an amendment for the November vote that would propose the licensing of 16 new casinos in the state.

Gov. Thurston rejected the petitions based on the grounds that the canvassers collecting the signatures had not undergone the required state and federal background checks.

Campaign spokesman Taylor Riddle said: “Arkansas Wins in 2020 has filed a motion for a voluntary nonsuit and will not be taking further legal action.

“It is unfortunate that the Secretary of State’s office was unwilling to defend the will of the nearly 100,000 Arkansas voters who signed our petition and we believe our argument before the Supreme Court was valid. We look forward to benefiting the overall wellbeing of Arkansans during these uncertain social and economic times.”

Official final decisions on the November ballot are due on August 20.

The state’s lottery director also rejected a measure proposed for the November ballot to allow thousands of gambling machines in Arkansas.