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PINE BLUFF, Ark. - (Gambling911.com) - Two executives of the Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, Arkansas are alleged to have developed gaming software called “GamePhysics” and had marketing that produce to “third parties within the Arkansas gaming industry.” Now the board of directors of the Downstream Development Authority, whose job is to oversee Saracen, want both men out.
Carlton Saffa is the current chief market officer, while Matt Harkness serves as the casino's general manager. Both have been recommended for termination in a spectacularly public fashion that would make most human resources departments blush. Imagine facing the prospect of losing your job—and having essentially the entire state notified before you've even cleaned out your desk.
The Authority claims to have determined that the foregoing conduct by both men constitutes good cause for termination, including by reason of violations of their respective employment agreements with Saracen, including, without limitation, obligations not to engage in conflicting employment activities while employed by Saracen and obligations not to compete.
They further assert that Harkness, while serving as General Manager of Saracen, failed to exercise the care, diligence, and financial oversight required for the management of Saracen’s finances, and that such gross negligence resulted in Saracen’s financial instability and constitutes an additional basis for termination for good cause.
And they say both Harkness and Carlton Saffa approved sponsorships and donations in excess of Saracen’s applicable policy limits without obtaining the required majority-vote approval, and that such failure to comply with Saracen’s sponsorship and donations policy constituted gross misconduct and negligence and provides additional basis for termination for good cause.
Saffa, for his part, has fully denied the allegations lodged against him while Harkness is yet to publicly comment.
Saffa also revealed he was the very first employee to work for the casino when it opened as part of a gas station. He helped oversee its licensing, construction and launch.
In 2019, the Quapaw Nation renovated the former Southern Edge truck stop in Pine Bluff into the Saracen Q Store, a convenience store and gas station. They have since expanded the property into a full fledged resort consisting of 80,000 square feet of gaming space including more than 1,500 slot machines, 30+ table games, and a dedicated poker room and sportsbook.
“I was the first employee, and since 2019 we have worked hard to go from one employee in a gas station casino to 1,200 employees and Central Arkansas’ top performing casino,” he said. “I was totally blindsided by this and do not believe the accusations give an accurate description of the circumstances. I wish the Quapaw people well.”
Saffa's understanding is that he is now on administrative leave.
After first hearing the news on Thursday without any warning, Saffa collapsed to the floor and had to be taken by ambulance to Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff where he was given fluids and released a few hours later. He was recovering at home on Friday.
Distributing the news of the pending terminations to the entire state of Arkansas might actually turn into a positive.
Saffa says he has received numerous job offers in recent days.
He is originally from Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Arkansas. Before entering state government, Saffa worked as an insurance salesman in Little Rock.
Saffa worked as an unpaid adviser to Asa Hutchinson's gubernatorial campaign. After Hutchinson won, Saffa was hired as a policy adviser in the governor's office beginning in 2015. He eventually became a senior adviser to Gov. Hutchinson.
The reviews of the Saracen Casino are overall positive.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
