The Quapaw Nation, the owners and operators of the Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, announced Monday that their $250 million hotel and event center is expected to open in the Fall of 2025.
Saracen Casino Resort will propel the Quapaw Nation’s investment in Arkansas to over $500 million
The 400,000-square-foot, 320-room hotel and 1,600 seat event center will bring the Quapaw Nation’s investment in Arkansas to over half a billion dollars.
“We love Arkansas, it is an important part of our ancestral homeland. For the Quapaw Nation to return with something so big and visible is a source of great pride.” said Wena Supernaw, Chair of the Quapaw Nation’s Business Committee.
Saracen Casino Resort opened in October 2020. It features 1,700 slot machines, 40 table games, BetSaracen (the largest sportsbook in Arkansas), and Arkansas’ only poker room.
The casino also boasts the Red Oak Steakhouse, which has received the honor of Arkansas’ best restaurant for the past three years.
In addition to Saracen Casino Resort, the two other casinos operating in Arkansas are Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis.
Casino employs close to 800 employees and 70% of the workers are from Jefferson County
“Saracen’s positive results since opening over four years ago have put us in a position to build this hotel and event center that will set a new standard in the region,” noted General Manager Matt Harkness.
“This next phase is happening due to the hard work of the Saracen employees, and the guidance of the Quapaw Nation’s leadership.”
“This second phase provides continued diversification of our offerings thereby improving the financial strength of our operations,” said Chief Financial Officer Jim Burns.
Chief Market Officer Carlton Saffa added, “The pair of 300-foot cranes speak for themselves, and from miles away. We are excited and looking forward to expanding our hospitality offerings.”
On Aug. 15, Saracen Casino Resort submitted a gaming proposal to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. The casino aims to create an online game that would send money to collegiate athletic collections across the Natural State. The game would function like a raffle, according to a report from The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Earlier in April, Saracen reached out to regulators for an expansion of its offerings with a request to amend state regulations to allow online gambling.
In March, Saffa submitted a formal request to the Arkansas Racing Commission seeking authorization to introduce iGaming in the Natural State. The state currently permits online sports betting but restricts traditional casino games like slots and blackjack to brick-and-mortar establishments.
