Step right up and place your bets because the highly anticipated Saracen Casino is finally a reality in Pine Bluff.
It opened Thursday afternoon during a soft-opening event after a two-years long process.
'It's nice to have something that is entertainment, fun, but safe at the same time,' said Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
On June 13, 2019 the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved the casino license sought by the Quapaw Tribe to build a casino in Jefferson County east of the Pine Bluff Mall in Pine Bluff. The casino will be named Saracen Casino Resort after Quapaw Chief Saracen, who was buried in Pine Bluff back in 1832. PINE BLUFF, AR (KFSM) — aracen Casino Resort said Thursday it will hire approximately 800 new workers in the next few weeks as it prepares for an upcoming grand opening in early October. 'The heart and soul of the resort property will be its team members, about 1,200 in all,'.
Hutchinson was one of the first to tour the casino.
He said he's proud to see what has been done to safely open the doors amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
'All the employees will be wearing masks, we will enforce that guests wear masks as well, we will be social distancing at the tables as well as the restaurants,' Matt Harkness, general manager of Saracen Casino.
Stepping on to the game floor is 8,000 square feet of 2,000 slot machines and 35 tables.
There are barriers in between each machine to assure social distancing.
The casino also includes a dining hall, additional restaurants including a steak house, and a sports lounge and bar, and a VIP room.
'We'll have six different types of brewed beer at our property that's brewed here,' Harkness.
Saracen Casino Pine Bluff Restaurants
Harkness said Saracen has a well-established security team run by a former Arkansas State Trooper.
'With this pandemic going on, people need something to do. So, this is great,' said Doris Golden, a Pine Bluff woman.
On June 13, 2019 the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved the casino license sought by the Quapaw Tribe to build a casino in Jefferson County east of the Pine Bluff Mall in Pine Bluff. The casino will be named Saracen Casino Resort after Quapaw Chief Saracen, who was buried in Pine Bluff back in 1832. PINE BLUFF, AR (KFSM) — aracen Casino Resort said Thursday it will hire approximately 800 new workers in the next few weeks as it prepares for an upcoming grand opening in early October. 'The heart and soul of the resort property will be its team members, about 1,200 in all,'.
Hutchinson was one of the first to tour the casino.
He said he's proud to see what has been done to safely open the doors amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
'All the employees will be wearing masks, we will enforce that guests wear masks as well, we will be social distancing at the tables as well as the restaurants,' Matt Harkness, general manager of Saracen Casino.
Stepping on to the game floor is 8,000 square feet of 2,000 slot machines and 35 tables.
There are barriers in between each machine to assure social distancing.
The casino also includes a dining hall, additional restaurants including a steak house, and a sports lounge and bar, and a VIP room.
'We'll have six different types of brewed beer at our property that's brewed here,' Harkness.
Saracen Casino Pine Bluff Restaurants
Harkness said Saracen has a well-established security team run by a former Arkansas State Trooper.
'With this pandemic going on, people need something to do. So, this is great,' said Doris Golden, a Pine Bluff woman.
Golden was one of the first Pine Bluff residents to play at a slot machine.
With the casino being right off the highway, Golden hopes this sparks an economic boost for the city she loves.
'I hope it continues to bring more jobs for people who need to work, and up the revenue in Jefferson County for everybody,' said Golden.
The casino opens to the public on Oct. 20th at 10 a.m. and is open 7 days a week.
New Casino In Pine Bluff Ar
Hours are subject to change during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) — The largest tourism investment project in Arkansas has partially opened nearly a year after voters approved casino legalization, bringing thousands of jobs to Pine Bluff.
The Saracen Casino Annex officially opened Tuesday morning. It's part of the $350 million Saracen Casino Resort project owned and operated by the Oklahoma-based Quapaw Nation. The casino resort portion is expected to open next June.
'This region was once home to the Quapaw Nation. Our presence here is a homecoming, so it's important to us that the city of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County thrive,' Quapaw Nation Chairman John L. Berrey said.
'Any corporation can build. Our goal as Quapaw is to become a ‘resident,' to contribute to the community in a meaningful way and to partner with community leaders to improve the lives of the residents.'
The overall project is expected to feature an 80,000-square foot (7,400-square meter) gambling floor, 2,000 slot machines and 50 gambling tables. A 300-room hotel with conference and banquet centers, an entertainment venue, and several restaurants are also part of the multimillion-dollar project. A fire safety, an emergency services facility, and a day care and child learning center will also be built.
The Quapaw Nation and Downstream Development Authority on Tuesday celebrated the opening of the annex portion, which is loaded with 300 slot machines and has already served about 10,000 guests since the ' soft opening' on Friday.
More than 200 people are employed at the annex and Q Store, the Quapaw Nation's newest convenience store and gas station. Most of the hires came from Pine Bluff, comprising 72% female and 70% African American. The construction will bring 1,000 jobs while another 1,100 permanent jobs will be created at the Saracen Casino Resort, casino officials said.
It's important to invest in the people who live in the region, Berrey said.
'Gainful employment benefits the employee, but it also transforms that individual's household and allows him or her to invest in local businesses and grow the local economy,' Berrey said.
Arkansas voters in the November 2018 general election approved the state constitutional Amendment 100, which authorized the Arkansas Racing Commission to license casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties with the support of local elected officials and allow for sports betting at the casinos.
In June, the commission unanimously approved Quapaw Nation's license for their Pine Bluff facility.
'The opening of the Annex and next summer's opening of the Saracen Casino Resort will draw visitors from across Arkansas and surrounding states,' Berrey said.
