In a flurry of activity, proponents and opponents alike were seen gathering signatures outside the Pope County Courthouse last Thursday, as several petitions were submitted for consideration on the upcoming ballot. Among the most hotly debated topics were the proposed repeal of the Pope County casino permit and efforts to institute a new law regulating online sports betting.
First in line was a group of concerned citizens seeking to overturn the controversial decision to award a casino permit to the Cherokee Nation. The permit, which was granted by the Arkansas Racing Commission in 2019, has been the subject of much controversy and legal battles ever since. The citizens group, led by local activist John Smith, collected over 5,000 signatures in support of the repeal, well exceeding the required threshold.
“We believe that the decision to award the casino permit to the Cherokee Nation was deeply flawed and did not take into account the wishes of the majority of Pope County residents,” Smith stated. “We are confident that we have enough support to put this issue to a vote and overturn the decision once and for all.”
In response, representatives from the Cherokee Nation were also present, collecting signatures in support of keeping the casino permit in place. “We believe that our proposal for a casino in Pope County will bring much-needed economic development and job opportunities to the region,” said Cherokee Nation spokesperson Sarah Johnson. “We are confident that the majority of residents support our project and look forward to a fair and transparent vote on the issue.”
In addition to the casino permit repeal petition, another group submitted signatures for a ballot initiative seeking to regulate online sports betting in the state. The proposal, which would allow licensed operators to offer sports betting to Arkansas residents, has garnered support from sports enthusiasts and industry stakeholders alike.
“We see online sports betting as a natural progression in the gaming industry and a way to generate additional revenue for the state,” said petition organizer Michael Thompson. “We have collected over 10,000 signatures from residents who are in favor of legalized sports betting and we are excited to see this issue go to a vote.”
Overall, the submission of these petitions has sparked a lively debate in Pope County and beyond, with residents on both sides of the issues expressing their opinions and gearing up for a potential vote in the near future. The Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners is currently reviewing the signatures to determine if the petitions meet the required criteria for inclusion on the ballot. Stay tuned for further developments on these pressing issues in the weeks to come.
