Arkansas rolls dice on casinos

The old adage goes that you should never chase your losses but this has seemingly not been heard much in Arkansas where the public have finally voted to allow casino gaming, albeit at the sixth time of asking.

Issue four, a constitutional amendment that authorises up to four casino properties within the borders of the colloquially known “Land of Opportunity” was approved by a 54 percent vote this gone Election Day.
Such came as a somewhat surprise for what is a deep-seated Republican strong-hold but it appears that given the legalisation of medicinal marijuana last year local perceptions are shifting.
The campaign for the amendment, brought to live by the Driving Arkansas Forward committee, focused on the massive economic benefits that casino properties can bring – not only in the generation of tax dollars, but in the keeping of consumer spend in state.