Arkansas rules in favour of casino measure
The state Supreme Court has ruled that the casino measure will remain on the November ballot.
US.- The Arkansas Supreme Court released a number of rulings on Thursday in regards to the November ballot. The state’s highest court upheld Issue 4, the amendment to pave the way for four casino licences in the state.
Nate Steel, counsel for Driving Arkansas Forward, the group behind the casino proposal, said that the decision by the Supreme Court clears the way for Arkansas voters to add almost US$6 million to the state’s economy and create 6,000 new jobs through a fair, measured and merit-based expansion of casino gaming.
“We are grateful the Supreme Court upheld the Attorney General’s certification that Issue 4 is clear and understandable to voters. We are confident Arkansans will vote to keep casino entertainment dollars in our state when they cast their ballots on Nov. 6,” said Steel.
The legal challenges were filed in September against the ballot and Chief Justice Dan Kemp, who was in charge of the challenges and later recused from the cases. The lawsuits were trying to get the proposal disqualified from the ballot, even after a major lobbying campaign that managed to get the question on the November election.
Should it be approved, Arkansas would legalise casinos at a Hot Springs horse track and a West Memphis dog track that already offer electronic gambling. In addition, casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties would be legalised.
