Lumbee Tribe Rejects North Carolina Casino Amendment in First Major Vote Since Federal Recognition

• About 9,000 Lumbee members voted on the amendment, with roughly 62% rejecting plans to authorize tribal gaming
• Supporters said a casino could create up to 3,500 jobs and spur investment in one of North Carolina’s poorest regions
• Opponents cited constitutional concerns, concentration of power, religious objections, and the speed of the post-recognition push

North Carolina’s largest Native American tribe, the Lumbee, has said no to a casino. Around 9,000 of the Lumbee’s roughly 55,000 members voted in a referendum that would have amended their constitution to allow gaming, paving the way for the state’s third casino.

At around 10 p.m. Tuesday night (June 24), the Lumbee Tribe Elections Board announced that roughly 62% of voters had rejected the amendment, though the results have not been made official.

Nevertheless, supporters of the casino plan, which includes tribal chairman John Lowery, have conceded defeat.

“Tonight, a majority of the Lumbee people have spoken, and they have said no to progress and have decided to stay with the status quo or simply staying with the way things are,” he said in a statement.

“This decision by the majority of Lumbee voters is historic and ensures we will not move forward with gaming. I will honor the wishes of the majority, and I will not bring this issue forward again over the remaining 18 months of my tenure,” Lowry added.

130-Year Quest

In December 2025, Congress granted the Lumbee federal recognition, ending a 130-year quest for acknowledgment.

The designation formally recognizes the tribe’s sovereign status and opens the door to benefits including federal funding, the ability to place land into trust, and potential gaming opportunities under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Last year, the tribe bought 240 acres of land along the I-95 in Robeson County in southeastern North Carolina, where the tribe’s population is concentrated.

Backers of the casino project argued that it would bring much-needed regeneration to the region, which suffers from some of the highest levels of unemployment and poverty in the state.

Lumbee officials said a casino could generate between 2,750 and 3,500 permanent jobs, with entry-level salaries beginning at about $45,000 a year.

Argument Against

Critics argued tribal leaders were trying to bypass the constitution’s requirement for a direct casino referendum by instead seeking a constitutional amendment with a lower approval threshold, according to The Assembly.

Others feared the measure would concentrate too much authority in the tribal chairperson, while some opposed casino gambling on religious grounds or argued the tribe was moving too quickly after finally winning federal recognition.

While the casino question could be revisited by a future tribal administration, the result appears to have shelved the proposal for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, the Robeson County land could be repurposed for other forms of economic development.