Arkansas pushes for casino legalisation

A group has filed paperwork to campaign for the proposed amendment that would legalise casinos in some counties.

US.- Arkansas Wins in 2018 Inc, a group in favor of legalising casinos in Arkansas, has filed paperwork with the Arkansas Ethics Commission to campaign for a proposed constitutional amendment to legalise casinos.

The proposal details that the legalisation would take place in certain locations in Benton, Boone, Miller and Pulaski counties. The proposal was filed last week with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office. Moreover, there has been a second effort from Driving Arkansas Forward, another group that is seeking the expansion of gambling in the state. The group wants to introduce another propose on the November ballot that would legalise gambling in Jefferson and Pope counties, while also allowing casinos at the Oaklawn horse track in Hot Springs and at the Southland greyhound track in West Memphis.

The Attorney General’s Office must sign off on the proposed constitutional amendment’s language in order for supporters to be able to start gathering the signatures needed from registered voters to qualify for November’s ballot.

“The Driving Arkansas Forward amendment gives communities a real voice in the process and ensures a transparent, merit-based selection of casino operators,” said former state Rep. Nate Steel, counsel for Driving Arkansas Forward. “It also recognizes and protects two great Arkansas institutions, Oaklawn and Southland, that have created hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue for our State.”