Unpacking Issue 4, The Proposed 2018 Casino Amendment

Casinos, Gambling,

Issue 4 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 6 General Election ballot.

If passed, the amendment would authorize four casinos in Arkansas: One in Garland County; one in Pope County; one in Jefferson County; and one in Crittenden County.

Casino licenses in Garland and Crittenden counties would automatically be given to Oaklawn and Southland who operate racetracks in those counties. The other two casino licenses would be awarded to qualified companies following an application process with the state.

Casinos would be able to offer virtually any type of gambling, including wagering on sporting events. The amendment may authorize Internet gambling and wagering via smartphones and other electronic devices. The amendment taxes net revenue from casino games, and it divides that tax money among various state and local government bodies.

Below is additional information regarding Issue 4.

Authorizes Casinos In Four Counties.

Issue 4 authorizes casinos in Garland, Crittenden, Pope, and Jefferson counties. Casino licenses in Garland and Crittenden counties would be given to racetrack franchises in those counties automatically. That means that Oaklawn’s horse racing track in Garland County and Southland’s greyhound track in Crittenden County would become casinos upon passage of the amendment. Companies would apply for licenses to operate casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties.

Who Can Operate Casinos?

Under Issue 4, Arkansas’ racetracks in Hot Springs and West Memphis would be able to offer casino gaming. Companies wishing to operate casinos in Jefferson County or Pope County must have proven experience operating casinos elsewhere, and must pay an application fee of up to $250,000 to the state. Practically speaking, these requirements favor wealthy casinos from other states who wish to expand business to Arkansas.

Allows Virtually Any Type of Gambling.

The amendment lets the casinos offer:

  • Sports betting. Casinos would be able to take bets on virtually any sporting event.
  • Slot machines. The amendment allows gambling via “any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device or machine.” This includes slot machines.
  • Cards. Casinos would be able to offer poker and other card games.
  • Dice. Casinos would be able to offer gambling on dice games.
  • Anything Else. Casinos can offer gambling via virtually any type of device or machine. There is no way to know what this open-ended language might ultimately allow.

Does Issue 4 Authorize Internet Gambling and Smartphone Gambling?

One unanswered question is whether or not the casino amendment would open the door for gambling online and via smartphones. State and federal law already have allowed Oaklawn to accept wagers from Arkansans online via its website. The amendment’s wording that says casinos can offer gambling via “any…electronic device” arguably could let people gamble through the casino’s website or smartphone app as well.

Taxes On Casino Revenue.

The amendment taxes “net casino gaming receipts,” which is gross revenue from casino games, minus any money paid to patrons in the form of winnings. The amendment taxes each casino’s first $150 million in net casino gaming receipts at a rate of 13%; net casino gaming receipts over $150 million are taxed at a rate of 20%.

This is lower than most states.

For example, according to the American Gambling Association:

  • Oklahoma taxes casinos at 35%.
  • Louisiana taxes casinos at 21.5%, and lets local governments impose additional taxes.
  • Missouri taxes casinos at 21%.

The only states with casino tax rates lower than Issue 4’s are Mississippi (11.2%), Nevada (6.75%), New Jersey (9.25% – 10.5%), and South Dakota (9%).

Under Issue 4, casinos are subject to the same income tax, property tax, sales tax, and other taxes as for-profit businesses, but cities and counties cannot levy any additional taxes on casino revenue.

Where Would The Net Casino Gaming Receipts Tax Money Go?

  • 55% to the Arkansas General Revenue Fund. This money would be allocated by lawmakers.
  • 17.5% to the Arkansas Racing Commission. This money would be used for horse racing and greyhound racing.
  • 8% to the county in which the casino is located. This money would be allocated by the quorum court.
  • 19.5% to the city or town in which the casino is located. This money would be allocated by the city council. If the casino is not located in a city or town, then the county would receive this money.

No Funding Earmarked For Arkansas’ Roads.

Some of the campaign material for Issue 4 has indicated the measure would help pay for highway improvements. However, the amendment does not set aside any funds for Arkansas’ roads.

Most of the tax revenue collected from the casinos under Issue 4 is handed over to legislative bodies who would spend the money as they see fit. Nothing in the amendment requires the Arkansas Legislature or local officials to direct money toward improvements to state highways or local roads.

In August the Arkansas Highway Commission issued a news release clarifying that Issue 4 does not earmark money for state highways, despite some of the claims being made by supporters of Issue 4.

Alcohol

Under Issue 4, casinos may operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and casinos would be permitted to sell or give away alcohol to patrons during all hours the casino operates, including Christmas Day—even if the casino is located in a dry county.

The Primary Financial Backers of Issue 4.

According to news articles and financial reports, the Quapaw Tribe in Oklahoma has contributed more than $1.4 million to passage of Issue 4. Leaders from the Quapaw Tribe have said they want to open a casino in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), and have held meetings with elected officials and community leaders in Pine Bluff.

The Cherokee Tribe in Oklahoma also has contributed more than a million dollars to Issue 4 and has shown interest in opening a casino near Russellville in Pope County.

The campaign for Issue 4 also has received support from manufacturers of gaming devices.

Photo By Ralf Roletschek [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons.

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Federal Government Investigating Assault Complaint Rising Out of GA School’s Bathroom Policy

LGBT,

In the past few years a number of public schools and private corporations have adopted policies letting men enter women’s locker rooms, shower facilities, changing areas, and restrooms.

The policies largely have been pushed by transgender activists and their allies.

We have written many times about how letting men enter women’s restrooms — and vice versa — violates privacy and puts women and children at risk. Now the federal government has opened an investigation into whether or not a kindergartner in Georgia was sexually assaulted because of one of these policies.

Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom write,

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has announced that it will investigate a complaint that Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, along with a local family law attorney, filed against the City Schools of Decatur on behalf of a kindergartener who was sexually assaulted in her school bathroom. The complaint explains that the school’s new transgender restroom policy opened the door to the assault of a 5-year-old female student by a boy in the girls’ restroom at her elementary school.

The Federalist reports a boy who identifies as “gender fluid” allegedly assaulted the girl after he was allowed to enter the girls’ restroom at school due to a district-wide policy allowing students to use whatever bathroom they feel is “correct.”

The Obama Administration tried to coerce public schools into adopting policies letting boys enter girls’ locker rooms and restrooms at school, but the Trump Administration has issued new guidelines effectively saying bathroom policies are up to state and local officials.

All of this underscores the need for state legislation protecting the privacy and safety of women and girls.

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