Lumbee Tribe to Vote on Casino Plan After Federal Recognition
Posted on: April 20, 2026, 05:59h.
Last updated on: April 20, 2026, 05:59h.
- Lumbee Tribe to vote on casino gaming after federal recognition win
- Casino could create up to 3,000 jobs locally
- Robeson County site along I-95 offers strategic location advantage
With federal recognition secured, North Carolina’s Lumbee tribe will put the question of whether to pursue casino gaming to a vote.
The Lumbee Tribal Council last week voted to approve a referendum to amend the tribe’s constitution to authorize gaming and instructed its elections board to set a date. With roughly 60K enrolled members, the Lumbee is the largest tribe in North Carolina, and all members will be eligible to vote.
“What form of economic development we take early on in this new era, whether gaming is part of our future or not, will be determined by the will of the Lumbee people,” Lumbee Chairman John Lowery said in a recent statement.
Long Road to Recognition
In December 2025, Congress granted the tribe federal recognition – a status it has sought for 130 years. This means that a tribe can be recognized as a sovereign government, granting it access to federal programs, legal status, and rights such as the ability to place land in trust and operate casinos under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
The Lumbee most recently pushed for a casino in 2023, backing a bill to authorize four new gaming venues in North Carolina, including one for the tribe, that ultimately failed.
Currently, the state has three casinos: two operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and one owned by the Catawba Indian Nation.
A Lumbee casino would most likely be situated in southeastern North Carolina, where the tribe’s population is concentrated.
Land Buy
Around the time that Congress was voting on recognition, the tribe quietly paid around $6 million for roughly 240 acres of land in Robeson County, which has long been earmarked as a possible future Lumbee casino location.
Roughly two hours east of Charlotte, the site sits along Interstate 95 and would be well positioned to attract both regional and through traffic.
If developed, it would be the only major gaming venue along that stretch of the I-95 corridor between New Jersey and Florida, a position analysts say could be economically advantageous to the tribe.
A Lumbee casino could provide a much-needed regional economic boost, creating up to 3,000 jobs in an area that has seen population decline as young people leave for work elsewhere.
In the lead up to the referendum, Lowery said in a Facebook post he would work with the tribal council to provide educational resources about IGRA and other federal guidelines that govern gaming, as well as a draft revenue allocation plan, to help voters make informed choices.
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