Legalizing casinos in Arkansas could affect Oklahoma gambling

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Officials with Oklahoma's Indian casinos say they could lose customers if a proposal to legalize casinos in Arkansas is successful. <br/><br/>A petition is being circulated in

Thursday, April 20th 2006, 11:31 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Officials with Oklahoma's Indian casinos say they could lose customers if a proposal to legalize casinos in Arkansas is successful.

A petition is being circulated in Arkansas calling for a vote on legalizing casinos. Gainesville, Texas businessman Michael Wasserman is financing the project and proposes seven casinos in Arkansas -- including ones in Fort Smith and Texarkana.

David Stewart with the Cherokee Nation's casinos says his tribe's casinos could see a drop in customers but he says the amount would be ``insignificant.''

But Choctaw Nation assistant chief Mike Bailey believes casinos in Arkansas would have a tremendous effect on his tribe's casinos although he says they could compete.

The casino proposal in Arkansas is nearly identical to a proposal that was soundly defeated by voters there in 2000.