Voter approval of the revocation of a on line casino license in Arkansas has now prompted a lawsuit by Cherokee Nation Leisure.
Arkansas residents repealed a license for Pope County that many native residents opposed with 56% of the vote, and the modification now requires native poll initiatives for future licenses.
The Cherokee have sued the state in federal court docket on behalf of a Pope County resident asking that the modification be declared unconstitutional and for a short lived restraining order and preliminary injunction to maintain the modification from going into impact.
Modification Nixes Tribal On line casino
The Cherokees had beforehand been granted the Pope County license in June by the Arkansas Racing Fee, and in addition challenged the legality of the constitutional modification earlier than the vote.
“Cherokee Nation Leisure is firmly dedicated to defending its constitutional rights, defending its lawfully issued on line casino license, and safeguarding the substantial investments it made in good religion primarily based on the institution of the Pope County on line casino license underneath Modification 100 in 2018,” Cherokee lawyer Bart Calhoun mentioned in a press release following the vote. “Modification 104 undermines foundational authorized rights and stands to intrude with a number of binding contractual obligations.”
Calhoun mentioned the tribe was contesting the modification on a number of authorized fronts “to protect our consumer’s rights and investments all through the authorized proceedings.”
In 2018, voters authorised Modification 100 permitting for 4 on line casino licenses. Three of these have been constructed however residents in Pope County expressed opposition to 1 being deliberate within the area. In line with Oklahoma Voice, Cherokee Leisure is difficult the modification on the idea of due course of, contracts, equal safety, and the takings clause of the U.S. Structure.
The tribe deliberate a $300 million facility within the county that included buying 325 acres to construct the 50,000-square-foot Legends Resort & On line casino. The property would home 1,200 slot machines, a 200-room resort, 15,000 sq. toes of multipurpose area, and a 5,000-seat outside live performance venue.
