FACE OF GAMING SARACEN CASINO RESORT

Tell us about the history of your business.

Saracen began in 2019 with the opening of the Annex, and development is still ongoing. In October 2020, the main property opened. It includes about 1,800 slot machines, 40 table games, Arkansas’ only live poker room, sportsbook and award-winning restaurants – including Red Oak, recognized as the state’s best in fine dining.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

Saracen is, first and foremost, a casino. That’s in our DNA. We look to create an experience like you’d expect in Las Vegas, just 40 minutes from Little Rock.

What has been your organization’s proudest moment or accomplishment?

The 800+ great jobs we have created in Pine Bluff are huge, along with the millions in tax dollars being pumped into the local economy. We’re also enormously proud of our statewide sports betting app, BetSaracen, which takes about 2/3 of all sports betting wagers made in Arkansas. This sort of market share is unheard of in any other competitive state.

What kinds of challenges do you face in your industry, and how is your company facing them?

Like all businesses, both big and small, retaining great employees is critically important. We are proud to be the employer of choice, offering quality pay, a bonus program that rewards employees at all levels and even tuition reimbursement for those going to school or going back to school.

What is the most important thing you do for Arkansans?

Regardless of your opinion of casino gaming, as an Arkansan, you benefit from Saracen. Certainly we pay dozens of jackpots daily and give away incredible vehicles monthly, but the tax revenue we provide funds a number of notable items, including highways.

What are your organization’s goals for the next few years?

Phase II of construction is commencing now and, when finished, will be a 400,000+ square foot addition to Saracen. This project will put the Quapaw investment in Arkansas at over half a billion dollars and will include 300+ hotel rooms and an event/concert center that can seat 1,600 people.