Catawba Two Kings Casino Becomes Official Sponsor of NFL’s Carolina Panthers
Posted on: July 21, 2025, 02:52h.
Last updated on: July 21, 2025, 03:02h.
- Catawba Two Kings Casino is the newest partner of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers
- The casino will promote its Two Kings, NC, casino inside Bank of America Stadium
- FanDuel is also a sponsor of the Carolina Panthers
Let the tribal casino turf wars in North Carolina begin.
After the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos sponsorship of the Carolina Panthers expired last year, the Catawba Indian Nation pounced to gain the privileges of becoming an “Official Sponsor” of the Charlotte-based NFL franchise. Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos became an official backer of the NFC team in October 2019, but the five-year pact terminated in 2024.
The Catawba, which has operated a provisional casino inside a modular structure since July 2021, continues to construct its permanent casino resort in Kings Mountain in partnership with New York-based gaming and hospitality giant Delaware North. Two Kings Casino Resort, a $1 billion project located off Interstate 85, only 35 miles was of downtown Charlotte where the Panthers play their home games in Bank of America Stadium, is set to open in March 2026.
Today’s news, effective immediately, designates Catawba Two Kings Casino as a partner of the Carolina Panthers. The multiyear pact will allow the tribal casino to have a marketing and promotional presence at Bank of America Stadium. The casino will also invite its most loyal Lucky North Rewards members to its 20-person stadium suite and give away tickets for lower-level seats.
Two Kings joins FanDuel as the two active gaming sponsors of the Panthers.
Resort Phases
Following a messy and costly split from the tribe’s former development partner, the Catawba Indian Nation brought aboard Delaware North to help bring its tribal casino dreams to reality. After years of legal delay, construction began on the permanent resort destination in June 2024.
The first phase of the Two Kings Casino Resort, opening next spring, will include a casino floor with 1,350 slot machines, 20 live-dealer table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and a rewards center.
The second and final development stage, planned to open in 2027, will greatly expand the gaming space to allow for 4,300 slots and 100 tables. A 24-story, 385-room hotel will be complemented by 11 restaurants and bars to go along with a 2,700-space parking garage underneath the complex.
Trent Troxel, vice president of the Catawba Gaming Authority, said the partnership with the Carolina Panthers will allow the Two Kings Casino Resort to reach a wider audience.
Turf Wars
Once Two Kings opens the first phase of its permanent casino next spring, North Carolina will be home to three tribal casinos. Before the Catawba Indian Nation secured a Class III gaming compact with state officials in 2021, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians held a monopoly on casino gaming in the Tar Heel State.
The Catawba Indian Nation is federally recognized in South Carolina, as the tribe is based in York County’s Rock Hill, just south of the Carolinas’ border. However, the Catawba people have historical ties to Kings Mountain, a prerequisite for having land in the North Carolina town deemed sovereign and taken into the federal trust.
Since South Carolina has refused to allow Class III tribal casino gaming, the Catawba Indian Nation looked north as a pathway to economic independence. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, one of the wealthiest tribes in the eastern half of the country, will likely invest in protecting its Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley in Murphy properties, both of which are located a little more than 100 miles west of Two Kings.
Last Comment ( 1 )
I was just there on Saturday. I had an amazing run on ARISTOCRAT/ BAO ZHU ZHAO FU. This casino is going to be my 2nd go to. Danville (VA) Caesar will be my number 1....