4 More Apply for Pope County Casino License

The Arkansas Racing Commission on Thursday received four more applications for a casino license in Pope County, including one from a group that detailed plans for a Hard Rock-branded hotel and casino complex.

The state Department of Finance and Administration said it received applications from the Cherokee Nation, Tri-Peaks Entertainment Group LLC, Robert and Ruth Kehl Family and the Choctaw Nation. The state had previously received an application from Gulfside Casino Partnership.

Only one application has been submitted for Jefferson County, from the Downstream Development Authority.

None of the Pope County casino applications include letters of support from current local leaders, while the Jefferson County application does. Racing Commission regulations say letters of support can only come from current officeholders. Voters in Pope County voted against the constitutional amendment to allow gambling.

Thursday was the deadline to submit applications. The commission will consider them on June 13.

Tri-Peaks Entertainment Group LLC, a partnership between casino operators Warner Gaming and Peninsula Pacific, submitted an application that included more details about its plans for a Hard Rock-branded complex off Interstate 40 in an unincorporated area of the county. It estimated the first phase at $230 million.

Tri-Peaks said amenities of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Arkansas would include:

• A 44,450-SF casino with 1,150 gaming machines, 28 table games, a live poker room, sports book, and mobile betting;
• 300-room hotel;
• a Bo Jackson Sports Complex, which would offer indoor and outdoor baseball and softball fields, indoor multi-purpose fields for soccer and lacrosse, batting cages and exercise equipment;
• 26,000 SF of indoor space for convention and group events;
• An 8,000-person outdoor amphitheater; 
• Restaurants;
• And an RV park.

The proposal included a study by Union Gaming Analytics, an investment banking and research firm, that estimates the project will generate 1,649 jobs, including 679 direct casino jobs, and a recurring annual county benefit of $229.2 million.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)