BOONE, GARLAND AND CHICOT COUNTIES; THREE (3) ADDITIONAL LICENSES, ONE (1) IN PULASKI AT A PREVIOUSLY-CHOSEN SITE SET FORTH BY LEGAL DESCRIPTION IN THIS AMENDMENT, ONE (1) IN GARLAND AND ONE (1) IN MILLER COUNTIES IF APPROVED BY COUNTY LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS; THREE (3) AT-LARGE LICENSES IN ANY COUNTY IF APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION AND BY COUNTY LOCAL OPTION; AND AT THE TWO EXISTING PARI-MUTUEL TRACKS AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 1998; PROVIDING THAT NO MORE THAN ELEVEN (11) LICENSED CASINOS MAY BE SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATED; PROVIDING FOR LOCAL OPTION CASINO ELECTIONS UPON PETITION BY TWENTY PERCENT (20%) OF THE QUALIFIED VOTERS IN A COUNTY; AUTHORIZING LICENSED CASINOS TO OPERATE 24 HOURS PER DAY AND PERMITTING SUCH CASINOS TO SELL OR SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING SUCH HOURS; LEVYING AN EIGHT (8%) STATE TAX ON CASINO GROSS GAMBLING REVENUES; AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF A TAX OF UP TO 2% BY THE MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES HAVING CASINOS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY AND THE CASINO; PROHIBITING ADDITIONAL TAXES ON GROSS GAMBLING REVENUES; REQUIRING CASINOS TO PAY STATE INCOME TAXES ON NON-GAMBLING REVENUE AT THE SAME RATE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARKANSAS BUSINESSES; AUTHORIZING IMPORTATION OF GAMBLING DEVICES BY LICENSEES; PROVIDING THAT REVENUES FROM CASINO TAXES, FEES AND FINES, LESS COMMISSION EXPENSES SHALL BE ALLOCATED: 40% FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION; 35% FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ON A PER CAPITA BASIS TO MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES STATEWIDE; 10% FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES TO MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES IN WHICH CASINO GAMBLING IS CONDUCTED BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF GAMBLING REVENUES COLLECTED IN EACH RESPECTIVE COUNTY; 10% FOR NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION; AND 5% FOR THE PREVENTION OF ALCOHOL AND GAMBLING-RELATED ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR; PROHIBITING LOTTERY TICKET SALES ON CREDIT, THROUGH ANY PURCHASER-OPERATED SYSTEM; PROHIBITING PERSONS UNDER TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS FROM GAMBLING AT A CASINO OR PURCHASING LOTTERY TICKETS; REQUIRING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AMENDMENT; REPEALING ALL EXISTING CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AND LAWS IN CONFLICT WITH THIS AMENDMENT TO THE EXTENT OF ANY SUCH CONFLICT EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE STATED IN THIS AMENDMENT; MAKING THE AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE; RENDERING ITS PROVISIONS SEVERABLE AND SELF-EXECUTING; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Pursuant to A.C.A. § 7-9-108, instructions to canvassers and signers are enclosed herewith.
Sincerely,
WINSTON BRYANT Attorney General