After emerging as a major player in the battle for a casino license (and the eventual legal struggle that followed), the Cherokee Nation has been dealt another blow. The latest chapters in the multi-year battle have seen the Cherokee Nation have its investments and licensing approval revoked. With this achieved through the new Amendment 104, the Cherokee Nation did not go down without a fight. However, at the end of August, a U.S. District Judge ruled against the Cherokee Nation and was in favor of this new amendment, a shock for many.
Naturally, with so many tensions in the physical casino space, it has driven local punters to seek other means of entertainment. Additionally, the online gambling scene is also a grey area, further driving players to seek out gaming options compliant with local regulations. In this case, the safest route would be crypto casinos as they offer players peace of mind with faster transactions, increased privacy through anonymous payments, and lower fees. Huge deposit bonuses and a curation of some of the best online casino games are an added perk, alongside the ability for users to transact with their digital assets.
Generally, these platforms operate in a legal gray area in Arkansas, and are an excellent way for punters to gamble despite the legal roadblocks that physical/local casinos are experiencing. This is especially true when looking at the reasons that influenced Judge D.P. Marshall Jr.’s decision to rule against the Cherikoo Nation. Rightfully, the latter party wanted compensation for the money they invested in the project upon being granted prospective licensing. However, D.P. Marshall did not see the gravity of the loss, justifying the decision to rule against the Cherikoo Nation by calling their investment a “calculated risk”.
The argument was further made when the judge clarified that millions of dollars were spent before a final, official (and undisputed) license was issued. From a legal standpoint, this does, to an extent, make sense, but so does Cherikoo Nation’s argument that the voter amendment was unconstitutional. Even more, the only reason Cherikoo Nation’s initial license was not officially approved was due to the back-and-forth litigation by competitors. This led to the creation of Amendment 104 (Issue 2), which was supported by rival casino interests (including the Choctaw Nation), a move set to end the legal battle.
It can, however, be argued that rival parties’ support of this amendment was a final push to ensure the Cherikoo Nation’s failure. Despite rival parties’ impact on their own standing, there was still room for contentment as no one would be receiving it at all (an “if I can’t have it, no one will” complex, if you will). Ultimately, this latest ruling upheld the voters’ wishes, giving a voice to local communities alongside the power to approve or deny any new casino projects.
Following this development, the Cherikoo Nation’s spokesperson detailed how the group would be considering their next steps in the (legal) process. A potential route the tribe could take would be pursuing compensation from the Arkansas State Claims Commission or the General Assembly. Of course, the tribe’s multi-million dollar investment alongside their passion for the project means there is still much room for development.
-In collaboration with ravenszone.net