Casino ballot title gets OK

Backers of Washington County gambling need petitions

The Arkansas attorney general approved the language of a proposed constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in November, would allow three casinos to operate in the state.

On Wednesday, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge approved the name and ballot title for an initiated measure to allow three privately run casinos to open in Washington, Boone, and Miller counties.

The measure, if approved by a vote of the people, would also create a five-member group known as the Arkansas Gaming Commission, which will be staffed by gubernatorial appointments.

Arkansas law doesn’t allow stand-alone casinos or some of the gambling games proposed for the three casinos. Electronic “games of skill” are permitted at two racetracks, Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs and the Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis. Gambling at those two facilities is subject to regulation by the Arkansas Racing Commission.

A member of Arkansas Wins in 2016, the group behind the proposed constitutional amendment, said Wednesday he hadn’t seen Rutledge’s ruling but noted there’s much work left to do.

“It’s always an uphill climb to get one [of these proposals] ratified and collect the signatures,” said the group’s director, Don Nicholas. “It’s already late.”

Arkansas Wins in 2016 would need to gather 84,859 valid signatures and file them with the secretary of state’s office by July 8. The group will also have to publish a copy of its proposal in a statewide media publication by Wednesday.

Nicholas deferred any other questions to fellow Arkansas Wins director Bob Womack of Branson. Womack didn’t return a call for comment Wednesday.

The proposal would allow the types of gambling and devices used in nearby states where gambling is less restricted — such as Missouri and Oklahoma — and would permit casinos to stay open 24 hours and serve alcohol whenever they are open for business.

The state treasury would receive 18 percent of the casinos’ annual net gambling

receipts. The city where the casino is would get 1.5 percent of receipts, while the county would get 0.5 percent.

The three casinos would be subject to the rules and regulations established by a newly formed state commission, whose members would

serve staggered five- year terms.

The governor could replace members currently serving but would have to show cause and be backed by the majority of the commission.

Two dueling casino proposals were invalidated by the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2012 before the general election.