The showdown for support between two groups fighting to build and operate a casino in Pope County seemed to come to an end during the quorum court meeting Thursday night.

With the meeting hall at standing room only, representatives from Gulfside Casinos Partnership and Cherokee Nations Entertainment offered presentations on why each should get the required support of the county in order to submit their proposals to the Arkansas Racing Commission.

After hearing from both Gulfside and Cherokee Nation, the court took a motion from Justice Lane Scott to support Gulfside. That motion failed on a 5-7 vote.

Cherokee Nation had already secured the requirement demanded by the racing commission – the official backing of a county officer – in the form of an official letter of support from Pope County Judge Ben Cross.

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