- Cherokee Nation Entertainment submitted their application for the Pope County casino license.
- The submission comes a week after the Gulfside Casino Partnership submitted its application.
- Only one of the applicants will receive the casino license to host blackjack in Pope County.
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Competition for the Pope County casino license just got more interesting after Cherokee Nation Entertainment submitted its application to the Arkansas Racing Commission. The regional gaming operator included their developmental plans, including 32 tables for blackjack and more in their $300 million investment.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) or Gulfside Casino Partnership will be awarded a Pope County casino license on Tuesday, June 11. CNE expects to receive that license since they’ve already secured the support of the Pope County Quorum Court.
“We are honored to have garnered the required support of Pope County leaders, purchased 325 acres of land, and obtained a Large-Scale Development permit from the City of Russellville,” said Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment in a release. “With the application now submitted, we are eager to present our plans and vast experience to the Arkansas Racing Commission and earn the state’s final casino license.”
Details Of Cherokee Nation Entertainment Casino Plans
The Cherokee Nation Entertainment development plans include a 50,000-square-foot casino equipped with 1,200 slot machines, 32 live dealer tables, a poker room, a sportsbook, and plenty of restaurants and bars throughout. The $300 million investment for the casino resort also includes a 200-room hotel, pool, spa, and outdoor music venue.
Meanwhile, Gulfside’s Pope County casino proposal includes a $405 million investment for their casino resort. The great news for residents and visitors is regardless of who wins the casino license, there will be a new casino resort to play blackjack in Arkansas at the Russellville location.