Arkansas selects tribe to operate casino

Local leaders have selected the Quapaw Nation to operate the casino that will be located in Jefferson County.

US.- Pine Bluff and Jefferson County officials have revealed that the Quapaw Tribe’s Downstream Development Authority has been selected to operate the casino that will open in the county.

The state voted last month 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.

Pine Bluff officials and the Quapaw Tribe have been working together for more than five years in order to win the approval of the bid. While the state Racing Commission has to make the official announcement of the casino licence, it is expected that it will be awarded to Downstream Development Authority.

“It has long been our goal to energize Pine Bluff and Jefferson County through a significant economic investment,” said John Berrey, chairman of Downstream and the Quapaw Nation. “As the original homeland for the Quapaw Nation, we believe we have an obligation to the region to be good corporate citizens. This casino resort will be a source of pride for the community. It will create hundreds of jobs and generate millions of dollars in taxes that will help improve the city’s and county’s infrastructure and quality of life.”