(KTUL) - Cherokee Nation Entertainment Gaming Holdings LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Cherokee Nation Business, has officially assumed operations of Gold Strike Casino Resort after receiving approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission. 'Legends, in one of their legal briefing, noted that they had already been before the Supreme Court five times.TULSA, Okla. 'The ruling that was made at the circuit court level really implied that this entire process may begin again,' Hardin said. So, in terms of infrastructure and the payroll and the basis of jobs, it's the biggest infrastructure development in over 40 years,' Cross said.Ĭherokee Nation Businesses appealed the circuit court ruling and made their arguments before the state's supreme court on Thursday. This will be the biggest single development since Arkansas Nuclear 1 was built in the '70s. It will give our local governments some funding.'Ĭross is hopeful of the potentially massive investment the casino would bring to Pope County. 'And it will be a huge boost to our economy. 'I negotiated on behalf of the county an economic development agreement with Cherokee Nation Businesses that amounts to about $38.8 million in upfront economic input,' Cross said.

So, you can consider this a ruling on technicality.' Cross said.Ĭross' main motivation in securing a deal with Cherokee Nation Businesses is nearly $40 million it would directly provide to Pope County for economic development. But, when you take it in totality that Cherokee Nation Business has been in the gaming industry for decades and they are the wholly, sole owner of Legends LLC, it becomes a ruling based on minute opinions as far as technicality. 'They said they didn't meet the requirements of Amendment 100 because the entity of Legends LLC has never operated a casino. Pope County Judge Ben Cross, who endorsed Cherokee Nation Businesses, said that ruling was on a trivial technicality. In January, a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge ruled that Legends was not qualified to have the license and that the racing commission made a mistake in issuing it. They planned to build the casino on 325 acres of land in Russellville. The commission then issued the license of Legends Resort and Casino, which is owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation. A company out of Mississippi was originally awarded the license, but it was revoked after a court ruling, according to Hardin.

Cherokee nation casino and resort