A poll commissioned by supporters of a casino in Pope County says a majority of voters in that county now favor a casino.
Pope County voted against the state constitutional amendment that legalized four casinos in Arkansas, including one in Pope County, and casino resistance led to the defeat of several county officials in 2020.
But as legal complications have continued to stymie construction of a casino under a permit granted to the Cherokee Nation, a campaign has begun to put another constitutional amendment on the ballot to strip authorization for a permit in the county. The Choctaw nation, which has casinos in Oklahoma, is financing the drive to kill a casino in Pope County. The Cherokee nation is backing the Arkansas Tourism Alliance, which wants to preserve the permit.
A key argument for opponents is past opposition by local residents. The new polling says attitudes have changed, with 54 percent in the county and 60 percent in Russellville, in favor of building the casino. Majorities also say the matter should be settled and that a casino would be good for the economy.
