By T. D. Thornton
The gaming operation that bolsters Thoroughbred purses at Oaklawn Park will face the threat of increased competition for gambling dollars if a Nov. 8 ballot measure passes to legalize three new casinos in the state.
The Arkansas Secretary of State's office announced Sept. 1 that supporters of a statewide casino referendum had turned in 100,977 valid signatures from registered voters, surpassing the 84,859 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
Currently, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and electronic gaming are legal at two Arkansas pari-mutuel facilities, Oaklawn (in Hot Springs, in the central part of the state) and Southland Park Gaming and Racing (a greyhound facility in West Memphis, bordering Tennessee).
According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration's website, Oaklawn and Southland are not legally considered casinos, but are instead allowed to operate these forms of betting under 2005 “Games of Skill” legislation that “provided for expanded gaming in Arkansas at horse racing or greyhound racing franchises that satisfy qualifications established by this legislation.”
The statewide November ballot initiative would operate differently. A “yes” vote would amend the state's constitution to allow casinos in only three specific locations: Boone County (bordering Missouri in the northern part of state), Washington County (in the northwest bordering Oklahoma), and Miller County (in the southwest adjacent to Texas). All three of those bordering states have their own forms of legal casino-style gambling.
Oaklawn Park director of racing David Longinotti brusquely ended a call when TDN phoned Friday morning to ask Oaklawn's reaction to the casino initiative.
“I can't talk. I can't have that conversation. I'm swamped all day,” Longinotti said, adding that no one else at Oaklawn would be available to comment.
Last week, Oaklawn issued a press release announcing record purses fueled by gaming revenues. “The 2017 season will mark the ninth consecutive season the Hot Springs track has opened with purses higher than the previous year,” the release said. “Maiden special weight purses, which have doubled since 2011, are $4,000 higher than 2016, allowance purses are up by as much as $5,000 and the bottom purse of $23,000 is $2,000 higher than last year and has increased more than 50% since 2011.”
Published reports on Arkansas-based news websites indicate there is opposition to the casino plan based on the initiative's monopolistic slant and the fact that the statewide nature of the vote would supersede any local say on the matter.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson is on the record as opposing the casino measure. According to the Associated Press, Hutchinson said Thursday he doesn't think the state needs any more gambling, and that it concerns him that the proposal would allow for constitutional changes to benefit a private company that is spearheading the question's passage.
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