Measure allowing casinos in 3 counties makes ballot

Election officials say the ballot has already been set by law, so if the suit succeeds, any votes for that proposal would not be counted.

The amendment would allow casinos to operate in Washington, Boone and Miller Counties.

The amendment to allow three casinos to operate in Arkansas has met signature requirements to be on the ballot in November, according to Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin.

“We’re grateful to the 100,977 registered Arkansas voters that joined with our campaign to get this pro-growth, pro-jobs issue on the ballot this November”, Robert Coon, spokesperson for Arkansas Wins in 2016 and Arkansas Winning Initiative Inc., said in a statement. The companies would have the right to transfer the licenses for the casinos. Each county would have a casino owned by people in Arkansas Wins.

Arkansas voters narrowly rejected a medical marijuana proposal in 2012, and the prospect of competing plans has anxious some advocates who say it could doom both measures. The group has not announced similar deals for the casinos in the other two counties. Arkansas voters in 2008 also approved a lottery to raise money for college scholarships, and the state began selling tickets the following year.

The Arkansas Bar Association filed a separate complaint with the court earlier this week challenging the proposal. Hutchinson said he was concerned about the proposal writing a private company into the constitution.