A Pulaski County circuit judge kicked a rejected application for a Pope County casino license back to the state Racing Commission, after ruling unconstitutional both a rule and a law that set restrictions on when local officials could endorse applicants.

Circuit Judge Tim Fox said in a series of rulings issued late Tuesday that the application from Gulfside Casino Partnership of Mississippi must be sent back to the state Racing Commission to apply the provisions of Amendment 100 and consider Gulfside’s application “on its merits.”

“As Judge Fox’s ruling confirmed, we were the only applicant for Pope County that timely complied with every requirement of Amendment 100,” said Casey Castleberry, Gulfside’s attorney. “The Arkansas Racing Commission should follow the precedent set with Saracen and grant us the casino license without further delay.”