Catawba Nation Eyes Two New Casinos on Heels of $1.25B Resort

The Catawba Indian Nation’s $1.25 billion casino resort in Kings Mountain is merely the opening act of a much larger gaming expansion, with tribal leaders revealing plans for at least two more casinos in North Carolina. The announcement came this week as the Catawbas celebrated a ribbon-cutting on the “introductory” first phase of the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort.

Located off Interstate 85 at Exit 5, roughly 35 miles west of Charlotte, the first phase of the permanent casino includes 1,350 slot machines, 22 live dealer table games, three dozen electronic table games, and sports betting kiosks. While the facility has been operating since May, tribal leaders formally opened the casino on Wednesday, July 1.

“They said it couldn’t be done on 18 acres,” Catawba Chief Brian Harris said of his skeptics. “We’re not even supposed to be here. They underestimated the heart of the Catawba people.”

The introductory casino will operate until the rest of the $1.25 billion resort is completed, which is slated for some time next year. The forthcoming resort will include a 24-story, 385-room hotel, 11 restaurants and bars, and an expanded casino with 4,300 slots, 100 live tables, and a sportsbook.

The tribe’s Two Kings Casino Resort is a joint endeavor with hospitality and gaming conglomerate Delaware North. KeyBanc has lent the project a more than $1 billion credit facility.

Delaware North partnered with the Catawba Indian Nation after the federal National Indian Gaming Commission rejected an agreement with North Carolina businessman Wallace Cheves and his Sky Boat Gaming on concerns that the property would primarily benefit Cheves and not the tribe.

The NIGC also raised concerns about Cheves being suitable to hold a position in a tribal casino due to his previously paying millions of dollars in civil and criminal fees for operating illegal video gambling games in several states.

Catawbas Tease Additional Casinos

The big news from Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting was that the Catawbas are only getting started with their entry into the tribal gaming business. Harris said the tribe has already identified two locations for additional casinos.

We got two more casinos to build in this state, and goddamn we’re going to build them.”

Catawba Chief Brian Harris

Asked by The Charlotte Observer about where the two casinos might be built, Harris replied, “I can’t tell you that right now.”

“It’s all about negotiations. We’ve identified the locations. We’re in preliminary negotiations right now. And once those come to fruition, when we come to deal, we’ll make an announcement,” Harris said.

Wider Exclusivity

The Catawbas secured a major victory last week when the Lumbee Tribe voted against a casino proposal in Robeson County along I-95.

Lumbee tribal members rejected an amendment to their tribal constitution to give tribal leaders the authority to approve tribal gaming and form a tribal gaming regulatory commission. The outcome means the Catawbas won’t face gaming competition east of Charlotte and will retain a wider casino monopoly.

North Carolina’s two other tribal casinos, Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, are located in the southwestern part of the state.