The Judge submitted his letter to ARC on October 26,2023 as the statute highlights and he believes that the Commission will hasten the license application process and offer relief to Pope County residents. But, CNB was referred to as Cherokee Nation Entertainment and the Court solved pending technical issues. Judge Cross said that Amendment 100 to Cherokee Nation Businesses required him to write an exclusive letter after realizing that the Arkansas Supreme Court had made a split decision. Judge Fox made it after the Gulfside Casino Partnership appealed the Racing Commission’s move to issue CNB’s Legends Resort and Casino license. Nevertheless, this was a split decision since the Arkansas Supreme Court previously affirmed Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox’s ruling that the ARC illegally approved CNB’s gaming permit in Pope County. Judge Cross wrote an endorsement letter for the Cherokee, offering it an edge over its rivals as the ARC reviews its gaming license application. A TBP report shows that Pope County Judge Ben Cross reviewed the gaming amendment and endorsed CNB in the license process. The process involved Gulfside Casino Partnership and Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB).

The Arkansas Supreme Court instructed the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) to repeat Cherokee Nation’s license application process on October 26,2023.

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