Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is reportedly planning to terminate General Manager Mark Harkness and Chief Marketing Officer Carlton Saffa for allegedly violating their employment contracts by establishing and running a separate gaming entity.
The Downstream Development Authority, a commercial enterprise owned and operated by the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma, endorsed a resolution on Thursday (Sept. 24) supporting the termination of Harkness and Saffa. The resolution cites the actions of the two executives as “good cause for termination.”
The Quapaw Nation Business Committee still needs to approve the resolution for their dismissals to take effect. The resolution alleges that Harkness and Saffa established a gaming company called GamePhysics and promoted its products and services to third parties within the Arkansas gaming industry.
The Downstream Development Authority resolution states that these actions violated their employment agreements, which prohibit employees from engaging in conflicting employment activities and obligations not to compete.
Saffa Shocked
Saffa has been with Saracen Casino Resort since its inception, spearheading the tribe’s commercial casino endeavors in Arkansas starting in 2019, shortly after Arkansas voters passed Issue 4 to permit a casino in Jefferson County.
During his seven-year tenure overseeing Saracen’s public communications, Saffa has emerged as a key figure in the Arkansas gaming industry. Saffa opposed Arkansas allowing DraftKings and FanDuel to operate in the state earlier this year, stating that all three casinos formerly opposed the major sportsbook brands.
Saffa has been a leading voice on gambling matters in Arkansas. When asked for comment on the resolution, Saffa informed Casino.org that it was “completely unexpected.”
Saffa mentioned that he collapsed upon hearing the news and was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and discharged after being monitored for a few hours.
Saffa denied the allegations of violating his employment contract by operating a separate gaming entity, stating that the accusations do not accurately portray the situation. However, he chose not to disclose the nature of GamePhysics’ business activities.
Saffa mentioned that he has received several job offers in the two days since the news broke.
Saracen Story
Following the passage of Issue 4 in 2018, Jefferson County partnered with the Quapaw Nation to construct a casino resort in Pine Bluff.
Saracen debuted in October 2020 at a cost of $350 million. The casino boasts 1,600 slot machines, 40 live dealer table games, a poker room, and the BetSaracen Sportsbook. Dining options include the Red Oak Steakhouse, Legends Restaurant, Saracen Sports Bar, and The Post.
Saracen recently completed a $250 million expansion, which included the addition of the 1,600-seat Saracen Event Center and a 14-story, 320-room hotel.