What if?

What if a resolution or letter had never been issued to Cherokee Nation Businesses?

On August 13, 2019

  • Pope County Quorum Court passed a resolution of support for a casino applicant, Cherokee Nation Businesses
  • Citizens for a Better Pope County and James Knight filed a complaint (lawsuit) in Pope County Circuit Court against Ben Cross and all of the then Justices of the Peace.

What if neither of these occurred?

The following is a timeline of what might have transpired without CNB getting a support document.  Everything through 4/24/2020 actually occurred.

8/15/2019
  • Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) rejects Gulfside Casino Partnership’s (Gulfside) appeal for reconsideration of the ARC’s denial of Gulfside’s May 17, 2019 application for a license for a casino in Pope County.
  • Concurrently with the appeal at the ARC, Gulfside files an administrative procedures complaint in Pulaski County Circuit Court appealing the ARC’s decision. The case is assigned to Judge Tim Fox.
8/22/2019
Judge Tim Fox transfers the Gulfside v ARC case to Pope County.
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9/25/2019 Judge William Pearson rules that the proper venue for the Gulfside v ARC case is Pulaski County.
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10/7/2019 The Gulfside v ARC case is lodged under the old docket number and assigned back to Judge Tim Fox.
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3/24/2020
  • In the Gulfside v ARC case, Judge Tim Fox finds the casino gaming rule and Arkansas statute that required support documents come from officials in office at the time of application for a casino license are unconstitutional.
  • The appeal is remanded back to the ARC for resolution.
4/24/2020 The ARC and the Arkansas Attorney General do not appeal Judge Fox’s order.
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5/7/2020
  • During a special called meeting of the ARC, Gulfside is issued a license to operate a casino in Pope County.
  • Citizens for a Better Pope County and a Pope County realtor sue the ARC for failing to appeal Judge Fox’s order in the Gulfside appeal.
8/13/2020 Plagued by difficulties in obtaining financing, purchasing property, and complications with the planning commission, Gulfside officially breaks ground on Bradley Cove Road for the River Valley Casino over 3 months after getting the license.
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9/29/2020 The Citizens for a Better Pope County et. al. lawsuit against the ARC is dismissed for lack of standing on the part of the plaintiff.
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10/21/2020 Citizens for Better Pope County et. al appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
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3/21/2021
  • Beset by construction problems related to COVID, supply chain delays, and labor issues,  River Valley Casino’s first phase is significantly behind schedule.
  • The Arkansas Supreme Court affirms the dismissal of Citizens for a Better Pope County et all vs. ARC on lack of standing.
8/13/2021 Stalled for months due to financing problems, shortages of materials and labor, and difficulties arising from COVID, Gulfside Casino Partnership announces that the construction of River Valley Casino is to resume in September.  Gulfside does not announce when the construction of the River Valley Casino hotel will begin.
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1/9/2022 River Valley Casino announces that their grand opening will be delayed 3 weeks due to Omicron; now scheduled for February 7, 2022.  Construction on the hotel is planned to begin in late summer, possibly sooner if additional financing can be secured.
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3/14/2022 After many delays, River Valley Casino’s grand opening is finally held.  Construction on the hotel,  planned to begin in late summer, is postponed due to continuing supply issues and uncertainties associated with the war in Ukraine and fuel costs that have soared as well as continuing financial difficulties.
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10/28/2022 Gulfside Casino Partnership cancels all contracts associated with the long-delayed River Valley Casino hotel.  No plans are announced for when the project might resume or when River Valley Casino Phase 2 would commence.