Arkansas’ casino plans backed by departing mayor
The departing mayor backed a proposal from a Mississippi company to build a US$254 million hotel and casino in Pope County.
US.- Former Russellville Mayor Randy Horton supported during his last day in office on Monday a proposal from a Mississippi company to build a US$254 million 600-room hotel and casino in Pope County.
Horton submitted a letter to the Arkansas Racing Commission this week, just a few days after the county judge for Pope County, Jim Ed Gibson, publicly expressed his support for the Gulfside Casino Partnership to obtain a casino licence.
“The community support, reputation, employee satisfaction, commitment to security, quality of properties and history of supporting and giving back to the surrounding community combined with verifiable financial stability and legal gaming operations are all factors in this evaluation,” Horton wrote. “Their proposal of a resort-style, family-friendly development that is aesthetically compatible with the surrounding area also represent the goals that I would have applied had the development been located within the City.”
The state voted in November 2018 to approve a constitutional amendment to allow four casino licences. Issue 4 authorises the state to issue licences for casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties, which are also eligible to offer sports betting if they decide to do so.
