More than half of the $250 million Saracen Casino Resort expansion in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is complete, with completion anticipated in the fall of 2025. A 13-story, 321-room hotel, an 84,000-square-foot event center that can accommodate 1,600 people, and retail establishments like a Starbucks and Sissy’s Log Cabin jewelry store are all being added by the Quapaw Nation, the property’s owner.
Saracen’s chief marketing officer, Carlton Saffa, emphasized the scale of the upgrade. “We are bringing the nicest hotel in Arkansas to Pine Bluff,” he stated. “If you like what we’ve done with the gaming floor and our award-winning cuisine, you are going to love our hotel.”
Construction began in August and has now reached 57% completion, with projections to surpass 60% by the end of March. The expansion will also create new employment opportunities, increasing staff numbers from 800 to over 1,000.
Push for iGaming and NIL Legislation
In addition to its expansion, Saracen is supporting legislation pertaining to online gaming that would enable the proceeds from iGaming to fund Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives for institutions in Arkansas.
A bill permitting online raffles for NIL funds was submitted by Representative RJ Hawk (R-Bryant) last year. However, casinos were not allowed to take part in the initial proposal. Saracen advocated for reforms, claiming that casino operators ought to regulate online raffles as they already employ geolocation technology for mobile sports betting.
A revised version, HB1634, recently passed the House Rules Committee, allowing casinos to participate. However, Saracen remains cautious about its impact. “HB1634 might help raise general funds for universities but cannot support NIL programs because of Amendment 84,” Saffa noted.
Saracen’s push for iGaming has sparked concerns from competitors. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs opposes expanding digital gaming beyond sports betting, fearing it could reduce physical casino traffic.
Meanwhile, Southland Casino in West Memphis, owned by Delaware North, and Oaklawn, owned by the Cella family, continue to grow. Both transitioned from racinos to full-scale casinos after the passage of a 2018 referendum allowing casino gaming in four Arkansas counties.
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