Pro-gambling group receives more funding in Arkansas
The group behind a push to legalise casinos in the state received US$1 million more from tribes.
US.- A group behind a proposal to legalise casinos in Arkansas, Driving Arkansas Forward, received US$1 million more from the Quapaw and Cherokee tribes last month. The group is promoting a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow four new casinos in the state.
The group received US$1.01 million in contributions last month and increased the total number to US$2.2 million, according to the report filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission. A spokesman for Arkansas’ Governor Asa Hutchinson, J.R. Davis, said that the governor won’t take a position on the ballot until it qualifies.
While the group has received multiple support in the last few months, the proposal still isn’t included in the November 6th general election ballot yet, as the group turned in 70,054 valid signatures, approximately 14,000 less than the required number. However, the group received a deadline extension in order to collect the remaining signatures and it has until next Friday to present them.
“As we move toward securing a place for this issue for the November 6th ballot, we have continued to raise public awareness of how expanded casino gaming will benefit the Arkansas economy,” Nate Steel, counsel for the Driving Arkansas Forward and Arkansas Job Coalition committees, said in a written statement.
The proposal wants to get the casino industry expanded into a Hot Springs horse track and West Memphis greyhound track that already offer video poker and other electronic games. The proposal would also legalise casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties.
