A group called Driving Arkansas Forward has submitted a proposed Constitutional amendment that would authorize casinos in Crittenden and Jefferson Counties, with a third casino possible in one of six other counties-Mississippi, Pope, Union, White and right here in Miller.
The tax revenue-estimated at around $45 million a year-would mostly be earmarked for the Arkansas Department of Transportation to build and maintain highways. That should be popular as highway funding is a constant battle in the state. The counties and cities where the casinos are located would get some of the revenue and the Arkansas Lottery Division-the ultimate licensing authority-would get a cut as well.
The devil is in the details, of course. In the past, those behind such initiatives were focused on personal gain. Written into the proposed amendments was language giving the backers a monopoly on the casinos. We have always been against any such efforts.
But this time casino operators would be selected on a merit basis by local officials. That sounds a lot better. So far, the Quapaw Tribe has expressed an interest in running a Jefferson County casino.
Of course, we have to wait and see what the final wording looks like. The proposal may be straightforward. Or there may be a hook in there somewhere. Right now state Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is looking over the proposal and has to approve the wording and ballot title. Then backers must collect enough signatures-nearly 85,000-to get it before the voters in November.
And even then the idea wouldn't be a sure thing. Polls consistently show most Arkansans do not favor expanded gambling options in the state, which already has a lottery and two parimutuel race tracks with casino-style electronic gambling.
In our view, casino gambling probably has more negatives than positives. We have said so several times on this page. But we can't ignore the fact that should a casino come to Miller County it would mean jobs and revenue in our part of the state-and both are badly needed. So we will hold off making any kind of judgment until all the facts are out there. There is still a lot of time between now and November.