It seems burial with a stake through its heart couldn’t kill the Pope County, Ark., casino saga – now into its second half-decade.

With Cherokee Nation Entertainment chosen to receive an Arkansas gaming license after a third round of applications, the contender that lost out – Gulfside Casino Partnership of Mississippi – has claimed in a lawsuit that county officials used arm-twisting to ensure CNE was selected.

Gulfside claims the Arkansas Racing Commission had the power to pick the best application, but chose CNE under duress from officials.

Pope County Judge Ben Cross, a longtime proponent of issuing the gaming license to CNE, is named in the federal lawsuit. Cross and the Pope County Quorum Court wrote letters of support that were submitted with CNE’s application.

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