Ongoing Dispute in Pope County as Casino License Loser Files Lawsuit Against the State
In a contentious legal dispute, Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) is challenging the state of Arkansas in federal court over the revocation of its casino license for the Pope County casino project. CNE, a business arm of the Cherokee Nation which operates casinos including the Pope County project, is seeking judicial intervention to restore its license that was taken away by a voter-approved measure in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Racing Commission granted the casino license to Cherokee Nation Entertainment in June 2018, but the passage of Issue 2, a constitutional amendment, effectively stripped the company of the license, despite voters in Pope County wanting the casino development to proceed. CNE has called upon a federal judge to rule Issue 2 unconstitutional.
CNE has also requested a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of Issue 2, aiming to prevent it from taking effect on Wednesday. The company is suing the state of Arkansas, with the lawsuit intending to block the enforcement of the revocation of the casino license.
The Pope County casino project, if developed, is estimated to generate $5 billion in economic activity in the region over its first decade. However, due to years-long legal action, no development has occurred in Pope County, while gaming facilities are operational in the three other jurisdictions where commercial casinos were approved in 2018.
It is important to note that no more recent updates indicate a resolution or settlement, so as of July 2025, the dispute remains ongoing in the federal courts. There do not appear to be direct connections in the search results to other lawsuits involving the Cherokee Nation or other casinos that might affect this case.
The current status of the legal dispute leaves the future of the Pope County casino project uncertain. Cherokee Nation Businesses is hopeful that the courts will restore its rights to operate the casino in Pope County, but only time will tell how this situation unfolds.
- Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) argues that the gambling trends in the United States, such as casino-games, sports-betting, and lotteries, could have been boosted by their casino-and-gambling venture in Pope County, Arkansas, had the casino project not been stalled due to the legal dispute.
- Despite voters in Pope County favoring the casino development, Issue 2, a constitutional amendment passed in Arkansas, has posed a significant challenge to the casino industry, potentially affecting not just CNE, but also other casino businesses across the nation.
- The uncertain future of the Pope County casino project, if completed, could have brought approximately $5 billion in economic activity from casino-and-gambling, sports, and other related industries to the region over its first decade, contributing significantly to the local economy.
