Application submitted for casino license in Pope County

NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER
Players circulate the gaming floor on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, during the grand opening of a new Cherokee Casino in Grove, Okla.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER Players circulate the gaming floor on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, during the grand opening of a new Cherokee Casino in Grove, Okla.

LITTLE ROCK — A Mississippi company has applied for a casino license in Arkansas, but the proposal lacks the backing of current local leaders.

Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin on Monday said the state received an application last week from Gulfside Casino Partnership for a casino in Pope County. A constitutional amendment voters approved last year legalized casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties, at a Hot Springs horse track and a West Memphis dog track.

[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of casinos in Arkansas]

The state received an application for the Jefferson County license from the Downstream Development Authority.

Hardin said the Pope County application included letters from former local leaders. Racing Commission regulations say letters of support can only come from current officeholders.

The deadline for the Pope and Jefferson applications is May 30.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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