North Carolina Casino Vote Looms Over Lumbee Tribe’s I-95 Resort Proposal
Posted on: June 23, 2026, 12:36h.
Last updated on: June 23, 2026, 12:36h.
- Members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina are voting on a constitutional amendment that would authorize tribal leadership to pursue Class III casino gaming
- If approved, tribal leaders will seek federal trust status for 240 acres in Robeson County and negotiate a gaming compact with North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein
- The multibillion-dollar development would include a casino, more than 800 hotel rooms, and many amenities
The polls are open in North Carolina, where members of the Lumbee Tribe are deciding whether a proposed casino resort development along the Interstate 95 corridor in Robeson County moves forward.
The Lumbees are considering a constitutional amendment to allow gaming on tribal lands. If the ballot question passes, the nation’s leadership would be cleared to proceed with its casino resort project.
The amendment seeks to provide the tribal council with the authority to approve a Class III gaming compact negotiated with the State of North Carolina, appoint members to a newly formed tribal gaming regulatory body, and establish regulations to govern gaming on Lumbee lands.
If you vote yes, you are voting for economic sovereignty for the Lumbee people through a tribally owned gaming and entertainment operation,” Lumbee Chairman John Lowery said in encouraging the Native American community to back the amendment.
“Many of the challenges facing our people can be supported through a strong economic development venture that includes gaming and entertainment operated in a safe, professional, and fully regulated manner,” Lowery continued. “While gaming will not be the only tool for economic growth, its projected scale and profitability can provide the foundation for long-term economic prosperity and create opportunities for additional development in other areas.”
The proposed development is called the Lumbee Dark Water Resort. The Lumbee are the “People of the Dark Water.”
If Amendment Passes, What Happens Next?
North Carolina is currently home to three tribal casinos — Harrah’s Cherokee, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, and Catawba Two Kings. The Lumbees received federal recognition through the Lumbee Fairness Act, a 2025 bill that Congress tacked into a defense spending bill.
Armed with federal recognition, the tribe purchased 240 acres in Robeson, roughly two hours east of Charlotte, for $6 million. Should today’s vote go in favor of the casino, Lowery says the tribe “will pursue gaming.”
The pursuit would begin with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs agreeing to place the 240 acres into the federal trust. From there, Lowery would be tasked with negotiating a Class III gaming compact with North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D).
Stein supported the Lumbee Fairness Act and celebrated the tribe’s recognition in December 2025.
“The history of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina long predates the history of the State of North Carolina itself,” said Stein. “Full federal recognition will allow members access to the federal health care, education, housing, child care, and disaster relief benefits afforded to other federally recognized tribes. These benefits will create economic opportunities for the tribe and the surrounding community.”
Lumbee Dark Water
The multiphase buildout of Lumbee Dark Water Resort is a multibillion-dollar project that would take many years to complete.
The tribe envisions more than 800 hotel rooms, with 240 being three- and four-bedroom “family” occupancies. In addition to a casino with several thousand slot machines and over 100 table games, the Dark Water blueprint includes a water amusement park, an 18-hole golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an art gallery, a tribal heritage center and museum, a lecture hall, and a retail shopping complex.
A convention center and entertainment venue, a spa and wellness center, and dozens of restaurants and bars are also planned.
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