A top finance leader at Saracen Casino Resort met a sudden end when a golf cart flipped on him at Pine Bluff Country Club late Thursday night. James “Jim” Burns, 58, fought for life at Jefferson Regional Hospital but passed away early Friday. This freak accident has rocked the Pine Bluff community and the gaming world. Details emerge slowly, but the loss hits hard for a man who shaped local jobs and growth.
The crash happened around midnight on January 8 at the Pine Bluff Country Club golf course.
An eyewitness spotted flashing red lights from the cart. He rushed over and found Burns trapped underneath the overturned vehicle.
The man started CPR right away and kept it up for five minutes until police arrived. First responders rushed Burns to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead from his injuries.
Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley confirmed the details. The body heads to the state medical examiner for a full autopsy.
Police reports stay under wraps for now. No word on speed, terrain, or if anyone else rode with him.
Jim Burns Built a Stellar Finance Career
Jim Burns grew up near Chicago and chased numbers from a young age.
He grabbed his accounting degree from Northern Illinois University in 1989. That same year, he nailed the CPA exam.
Burns earned an MBA there in 1995. In 2012, he took a gaming leadership course at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Over 28 years, Burns led finances as CFO, CEO, and general manager at gaming spots nationwide. He joined Saracen Casino Resort in 2020 as CFO.
His work earned praise in a 2025 profile as Arkansas gaming’s key face. Colleagues called him a value builder who hit financial goals.
He leaves wife Lisa, five grown kids, and four grandkids.
Saracen Casino Thrives Under Burns’ Watch
Saracen Casino Resort stands as a Quapaw Nation project on their old Arkansas lands. It opened in 2020 and now pumps life into Pine Bluff.
The place created hundreds of jobs and partners with local vendors. Burns teamed with Quapaw leaders to craft smart money plans.
A 2025 study pegged its yearly boost at $236 million to the area economy. That cash flows from taxes, wages, and spending.
| Saracen Economic Wins | Impact |
|---|---|
| Annual Local Boost | $236 million |
| Jobs Created | Hundreds |
| Monthly Tax Revenue | $100,000+ from annex |
| Total Taxes Paid | $18 million+ early years |
Burns kept things tight on costs while chasing big goals. His steady hand fueled the resort’s rise amid tough gaming rules.
Pine Bluff leaders cheer the revival. The casino turned a quiet spot into a hot draw.
Golf Cart Dangers Spark Safety Talks
Golf carts seem fun and harmless on courses. But risks lurk in flips and falls.
Reports show about 15,000 injuries each year across the US. Around 600 people die in these wrecks annually.
- Most crashes tie to sharp turns or rough ground.
- Night rides up the odds without good lights.
- No seat belts on many models spells trouble.
Experts push for roll bars and speed caps. Clubs often add rules after bad news like this.
Burns’ death spotlights how quick fun turns deadly without care. Riders need to check paths and gear up.
Local golf spots may review carts now. Families everywhere feel the wake-up call.
Pine Bluff mourns a finance whiz gone too soon. Jim Burns drove Saracen Casino’s wins and touched countless lives through jobs and growth. His smart moves built a brighter Pine Bluff, but this golf cart mishap stole him at 58. One split-second flip ended decades of hard work and family joy.
