Top Saracen Casino execs recommended for termination

Saracen Casino Resort’s top two executives – Carlton Saffa and Matt Harkness – have been recommended for termination.

The two-page resolution was passed Thursday by a unanimous vote of the board of directors of the Downstream Development Authority, whose job is to oversee Saracen, which is owned by the Quapaw Nation.

The resolution said Saffa, the chief market officer, and Harkness, the general manager, had created gaming software called “GamePhysics” and had marketed it to “third parties within the Arkansas gaming industry.”

By doing that, the resolution said, the men had violated their agreements with Saracen “including, without limitation, obligations not to engage in conflicting employment activities while employed by Saracen and obligations not to compete.”

It also said Harkness had “failed to exercise care, diligence and financial oversight required for the management of Sarance’s finances, and that such gross negligence resulted in Saracen’s financial instability and constitutes an additional basis for termination for good cause.” 

The resolution further alleged that the two men had approved sponsorships and donations “in excess of Saracen’s applicable policy limits without obtaining the required majority vote approval,” which constituted an “additional basis for termination for good cause.”

The resolution, signed by Billy Shapp, the authority’s chairman, and Hoshi Henry, secretary, said the recommendation would be presented to the Quapaw Nation Business Committee, the members of which are elected by the tribe’s members.

Saffa declined to go into detail about the particulars of the resolution but said he was proud of his work.

“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 said Harkness had been with Saracen for six years.

Saffa added that “as far as I know, I’ve been placed on paid administrative leave.” He said he was at work on a business call when he heard the news on Thursday afternoon and collapsed on the floor from the shock. He said he was taken by ambulance to Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff where he was given fluids and released a few hours later. He was resting at home when he was reached for comment on Friday evening. 

Saffa said he did not know when the Business Committee might make a decision on the recommendation. In the short time the news has been out, he said he had received multiple job offers. 

Saracen is one of three casinos in the state, the others being in Hot Springs and West Memphis. Saracen opened a 1,600-seat event center in April and a 14-story, 318-room hotel in June.