Poll Reveals Majority of Pope County Voters Support Local Casino
Results Also Show Positive View of Legends Resort & Casino
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Angela Rachels 501-837-2363 angela@ghidotti.com
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 4, 2024) — A new poll of likely voters in Pope County shows that more than 55% of them support a casino there, despite claims by Local Voters in Charge, a group backed by out-of-state interests petitioning to repeal the casino and the economic opportunities that come with it.
“We frequently hear the casino repeal crowd say that the people of Pope County don’t want a casino, which could not be farther from the truth,” said Investing in Arkansas Vice Chairman Natalie Ghidotti. “This poll is another affirmation that Pope County voters want a casino and Cherokee Nation Entertainment — a group that has been investing in the community for the past five years — is the preferred community partner.”
Investing in Arkansas is an Arkansas ballot question committee organized to urge voters not to sign a petition by Local Voters in Charge to repeal the Pope County casino. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which operates a casino just over the state line, is the sole financial supporter of Local Voters in Charge, giving $1.25 million to the group.
According to a poll conducted in early 2024 by Main Street Analytics of Little Rock, a clear majority of likely voters in Pope County, 55%, strongly support the development of a casino there, compared with about 40% who oppose it, affirming that Pope County residents welcome the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic growth a casino will bring to the country, state and region.
The poll also found that Pope County voters positively view Legends Resort & Casino and its operator, Cherokee Nation Entertainment. When voters were asked their perception of groups associated with the casino issue, Legends Resort & Casino ranked the highest, with nearly 50% of voters holding a favorable opinion — a net margin of 20 percentage points above those who viewed Legends unfavorably.
“This is one more reason we urge voters not to be fooled by misinformation and tricked into signing the casino repeal petition,” Ghidotti said. “It’s clear what the voters want, and signing this petition will give them the exact opposite of that. Signing this petition will eliminate a casino and millions of dollars in tax revenue for Pope County and the entire state.”
In 2018, Arkansas voters passed Amendment 100, authorizing four casino licenses across the state to keep Arkansas tax and tourism dollars within its borders. But a proposed constitutional amendment by Local Voters in Charge seeks to undo this decision, potentially diverting jobs and economic benefits to neighboring states like Oklahoma. Efforts to stop the Pope County casino have already cost state and local governments roughly $100 million in tax revenue since 2019.
Excerpts from the poll, including the actual questions asked, are attached. The poll surveyed 303 likely general election voters in Pope County through live phone interviews. It has a margin of error of +/- 5.6%. The poll was commissioned by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and conducted by Main Street Analytics. Cherokee Nation Entertainment supports Investing in Arkansas and its efforts to oppose out-of-state interests seeking to repeal the Pope County casino.
About Investing In Arkansas
Investing in Arkansas is an Arkansas ballot question committee organized to urge voters not to sign the petition that would repeal the Pope County casino. The committee promotes the substantial investments and economic development benefits of the Pope County casino, including thousands of jobs and millions in annual tax revenue to local and state governments. Learn more at investinginarkansas.com.
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