The state of Arkansas came one step closer to introducing casino gambling this week after enough support was garnered to bring the question to the November ballot. The Arkansas Wins in 2016 group said that it had managed to drum up over 100,000 supporters to include the issue of building three casinos in the state. If the ballot passes, the state’s constitution will be amended to see three new casinos built in Washington County, Miller County and Boone County. Operating casinos will be required to pay a tax rate of 18% to the state and a further 1.5% tax to the city in which it is located. Furthermore, casinos will also need to contribute 0.5% to the county in which they operate.
A spokesperson for the Arkansas Wins in 2016 advocacy group said that they were grateful that nearly 100,100 state residents – 16,000 more than was legally needed – joined with the campaign to get the “pro-growth, pro-jobs” issue on the November ballot.
“This amendment will create thousands of good paying jobs, generate tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue, increase tourism, and stimulate our state and local economies,” said Robert Coon.
The spokesman went on to say that the three counties, in particular, would benefit significantly from the passage of the amendment as jobs, tourism and income would be brought back from neighboring states where Arkansas dollars have escaped to in recent years. It is no coincidence that Boone County, Miller County and Washington County were chosen to be locations for potential casinos. The three are located are located near the borders of Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Louisiana, and it is hoped that residents of these states will cross the border to enjoy entertainment at Arkansas land casinos.
Coon said that new casinos in these counties would “provide those communities with new gaming, hotel, entertainment, and restaurant options.”
“We’re excited that Arkansans will have the opportunity to vote on this important amendment this November,” he said.
The amended constitution would therefore define casino gambling as follows: “…dealing, operating, carrying on, conducting, maintaining, or exposing for play any game played with cards, dice, equipment, or any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device or machine for money, property, checks, credit, or any representative value, as well as accepting wagers on sporting events or other events, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any game, device, or type of wagering permitted at a casino operated within any one or more of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Texas as of November 8, 2016, or as subsequently permitted thereafter …”
