Tuesday Marks The Grand Opening Of The $350M Saracen Casino
- The Saracen Casino opens its doors on Tuesday to all Arkansas players in the Pine Bluff area.
- The casino will create 1,100 new jobs for Pine Bluff residents.
- The state will get 13% net revenue for the first $150 million and 20% net revenue for all exceeding $150 million.
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Saracen Casino will officially be launching in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on Tuesday and the excitement for the major resort is intense.
The resort will employ 1,100 residents in the area and will push safety measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. All employees and patrons will be required to wear masks.
The casino has been under development for over two years and cost $350 million to build. Residents and city officials have been eagerly awaiting the grand opening and now the moment is in arms reach.
Saracen Grand Opening
The $350 million resort will be presenting Arkansas gamblers with several options for gaming as well as sports betting and fine dining.
Not only is the casino resort going to create a slew of jobs, there is an expectation of a local economic boom that will come as well.
Per the agreement with the state, the first $150 million generated by the casino operator will be taxed 13%. All revenue that exceeds $150 million will be taxed 20%.
This net revenue will then be split between the Arkansas Racing Commission (17.5%), The city of Pine Bluff (19.5%), and Jefferson County (8%).
“With this pandemic going on, people need something to do. So, this is great,” said Doris Golden, a Pine Bluff woman. "I hope it continues to bring more jobs for people who need to work, and up the revenue in Jefferson County for everybody.”
The main casino floor is 8,000 square feet with over 2,000 slot machines and 35 tables for table gaming. The Saracen Casino will also have a fully functioning sports lounge for legal sports betting and a slew of restaurants for residents and tourists alike.
“We’re going to be a culinary and hospitality destination like no other in the state, I say even region,” said Todd Gold, director of food and beverage at Saracen Casino. “But we want just as many to come here to dine, and then they’ll go play the games.”
In addition to all the amenities that the casino resort has to offer, there is also a strict protocol in place to keep both employees and patrons safe from coronavirus exposure.
"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,” said Matt Harkness, general manager of Saracen Casino.
The Saracen Casino launch is a major win for the legal gambling market in Arkansas. The Pine Bluff resort is expected to be a major attraction for both residents and tourists alike.