North Carolina Casinos | Updates 2023

North Carolina has two operating Indian casinos and an Indian bingo hall. All three are owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.

A new Indian casino resort at King's Mountain is under construction by the Catawba Indian Nation. The casino is named Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort and will open in the Spring 2021.

News Headlines

Catawba Two Kings Casino: Construction Update Feb 2023 February 13, 2023 - The latest information regarding construction of the future Two Kings Casino Resort was released in an email this week from a spokesman for the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino facing temporary closure for federal violations December 9, 2022 - The National Indian Gaming Commission has concluded an investigation into the Catawba Two Kings Casino and found multiple violations of the Indian Gaming ... Read more Two Kings Casino's federal investigation nears completion November 10, 2022 - Last March the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) opened an investigation into the financial dealings between the Catawba Indian Nation and the slot machine vendor ... Read more Harrah's Cherokee Valley River's $275M Expansion Project October 6, 2022 - Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel broke ground last week on a $275 million construction project to double the size of its casino and hotel by adding gaming space, a hotel tower ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino opens 24-hour sportsbook September 9, 2022 - Catawba Two Kings Casino opened a sportsbook last Tuesday inside its temporary casino. The kickoff came just days before the 2022 NFL season. Sports fans can now ... Read more Two Kings Casino is under federal investigation August 11, 2022 - Catawba Two Kings Casino is under federal investigation for a slot machine vendor allegedly giving company shares to family members of South Carolina politicians. A Wall Street Journal report ... Read more Two Kings Casino construction is delayed by political scandal investigation August 3, 2022 - Construction of the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort is on hold as the federal government investigates whether politician family members received ... Read more Headlines continued...

North Carolina Minimum Gambling Age

Minimum gambling ages are 21 years old for casinos, 21 for poker, All for bingo, 21 for sports betting, 18 for horse racing, 18 for the lottery.

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North Carolina Indian Casinos

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History of North Carolina Casinos

Casino gambling began in North Carolina 25 years ago with the opening of the first casino in 1997. Since then a timeline of expansion added two more casino. All three casinos are Indian gaming casinos regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission.

1997 (Nov. 13, 1997)
Harrah's Cherokee Casino opened in Cherokee, NC
Harrah's Cherokee Casino was built on a 56-acre site at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 50 miles southwest of Asheville, NC. See Harrah's Cherokee Casino for gaming information.

2006 (March 30, 2006)
North Carolina Education Lottery opened first retail sales

2015 (Sept. 28, 2015)
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino opened in Murphy
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino was built on an 85-acre site in western North Carolina near U.S. 19/74. See Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino for gaming information.

2019 (July 26, 2019)
Sports wagering became legal on tribal lands

2021 (Jan. 22, 2021)
Gov. Roy Cooper signs gaming compact with Catawba Indian Nation
The state aurhotized the Catawba Nation to operate Vegas-style slot machines and table games (Class III gambling) at the new Two Kings Casino Resort planned for Kings Mountain, and the tribe agreed to share revenues with the state.

2021 (July 1, 2021)
Catawba Two Kings Casino opened temporary casino
The temporary casino is operating 24/7 during construction of the permanent Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort. See Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort for gaming information.

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News Articles

U.S. House votes for full recognition of Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

November 9, 2021

On the first day of Native American Heritage Month the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.2758 titled "Lumbee Recognition Act". The bill would grant full federal recognition to the tribe with federal benefits and services to its members.

As a recognized tribe, the Lumbee could someday apply to the U.S. Department of Interior for the right to operate a casino on its reservation in accordance with the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The House bill passed by a 357-59 vote and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

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North Carolina Senate passes sports betting bill

August 27, 2021

The North Carolina Senate passed Bill 688 last week by a vote of 26-19. If passed by the House and signed by the governor, the legislation would authorize twelve more sports betting licenses including mobile betting and professional sports stadiums.

Currently sport bets can only be placed at two locations in Norh Carolina: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino in Murphy.

The Senate bill has now been sent it to the House, where it had a formal reading last week and was assigned to the House Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations. There has been no indication at this time how long it will be before the committee votes on the bill.

Back    Full Page > North Carolina Casinos | Updates 2023

News Headlines Continued

2022

Catawba Two Kings Casino Celebrates 1st Anniversary July 7, 2022 - Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort opened its temporary casino one year ago on July 1 and celebrated this past weekend with outdoor music, live DJs, free-play promotions and daily drawings for three ... Read more North Carolina: A timeline of casinos February 4, 2022 - Casino gambling began in North Carolina 25 years ago with the opening of the first casino in 1997. Since then two more casino have been added. All three casinos are Indian gaming casinos regulated by the federal ... Read more New Year 2022 Will See New States Add Sports Betting January 1, 2022 - Thirty three states have legalized sports betting since the Supreme Court removed the ban on May 14, 2018. Nine of these states legalized sports betting in 2021. Four more states will likely follow ... Read more

2021

Cherokee's legal challenge against Catawba casino is ended by Congress December 28, 2021 - The legal fight of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to stop the Catawba Indian Nation of South Carolina from building Two Kings Casino in North Carolina is over. ... Read more NC Cherokee casinos will ban smoking December 17, 2021 - The Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians passed an ordinance last week to significantly limit smoking at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River in Murphy. ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino doubles temporary casino today December 15, 2021 - The Catawba temporary casino in Kings Mountain doubled in size today. The floor size has double, the number of slot machines has increased from 500 to 1,000 and electronc table ... Read more U.S. House votes for full recognition of Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina November 9, 2021 - On the first day of Native American Heritage Month the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2758 titled "Lumbee Recognition Act". The bill would grant full federal recognition to the ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino gets support from U.S. House Bill November 9, 2021 - On the first day of Native American Heritage Month the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1619 titled "Catawba Indian Nation Lands" to ratify the decision by the U.S. Interior Dept ... Read more Update: Catawba Two Kings Casino expansion and construction timeline October 12, 2021 - Catawba Two Kings Casino is currently expanding its temporary slots casino to double the space and double the number of slot machines. The casino opened July 1 with ... Read more Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort opens new $330M hotel and convention center October 10, 2021 - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians held a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 1 at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort to celebrate the grand opening of its its new ... Read more Two Kings Casino will double its slots by late 2021 September 23, 2021 - Construction is underway to expand the temporary Two Kings Casino which opened in July 2021. More gaming space will be added to the current 14,700-square-foot gaming floor to accommodate ... Read more North Carolina Senate passes sports betting bill August 27, 2021 - The North Carolina Senate passed Bill 688 last week by a vote of 26-19. If passed by the House and signed by the governor, the legislation would authorize twelve more sports betting licenses including mobile ... Read more Indiana approves Cherokee (EBCI) purchase of Caesars August 23, 2021 - The Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) last week approved the $250 million sale of Caesars Southern Indiana to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The deal is expected to close next month. ... Read more Video Tour: Catawba Two Kings temporary casino August 16, 2021 - Catawba Chief William "Bill" Harris leads a tour of the new Catawba Two Kings temporary casino in Kings Mountain NC. The new casino with 500 slot machines opened July 1 and will operate 24/7 during ... Read more Cherokee approves $275 million expansion of Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy July 20, 2021 - The Cherokee Tribal Council has approved a $275 million master plan to add a second hotel tower and more gaming at Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino opening brings heavy traffic to Kings Mountain July 11, 2021 - Since opening a 500-slot temporary casino at Catawba Two Kings Casino, the crowds have been coming in high numbers everyday creating heavy traffic in Kings Mountain. ... Read more Catawba Two Kings temporary casino is now open! July 2, 2021 - The Catawba Indian Nation opened its "temporary casino" at noon yesterday at the future home of the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort. The location is 538 Kings Mountain Blvd. in Kings Mountain ... Read more Harrah's Cherokee Casino Will Open $250M Hotel Tower and Convention Center this Fall June 26, 2021 - Harrah's Cherokee Casino is completing construction of a $250 million expansion project that began with a groundbreaking in June 2018. The new additions include a hotel tower and convention ... Read more Kings Mtn Casino Readies for July Opening | Photo Update June 21, 2021 - Catawba Two Kings Casino is preparing to open its temporary slots casino in July. This facility will operate 24 hours a day and feature 500 slot machines, a snack bar, food trucks, valet ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino will open first 500 slots July 1, 2021 June 6, 2021 - FOX 46 has confirmed the early opening of a 500 slot machine facility is scheduled to open July 1st. The facility will provide a temporary location to play slots while the Catawba Two Kings Casino ... Read more Cherokees appeals judge's ruling that favored Catawba Two Kings Casino May 27, 2021 - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has appealed last month's ruling by a federal judge to allow the Catawba Nation from South Carolina to proceed with construction ... Read more Catawba Two Kings "Pre-launch" Casino hiring for July opening May 25, 2021 - Catawba Two Kings Casino completed a two-day job fair last week in preparation for the July 1st opening of its "pre-launch" casino. The temporary casino needs 200 new workers and ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino wins legal challenge from Cherokee Indians April 23, 2021 - The North Carolina-based Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians sued the South Carolina-based Catawba Nation to stop construction of the Two Kings Casino at Kings Mountain, NC. ... Read more Catawba will open temporary casino July 1 during construction of Two Kings Casino April 1, 2021 - Catawba Nation will open a temporary casino during the construction of Two Kings Casino Resort. The modular facility will open July 1 with 500 slot machines and a food ... Read more Feds give final sign-off on Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort March 31, 2021 - The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs has approved the gaming compact between North Carolina and the Catawba Indian Nation last week, and will transfer the 16-acre casino site at Kings Mountain ... Read more Cherokee open first sportsbooks in North Carolina March 19, 2021 - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened "The Book" sports wagering venues yesterday inside their two casinos, Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah's Cherokee Valley Casino in ... Read more Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort schedules job fair May 13, 2021 - The Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort plans a two-day job fair this month to hire 200 workers for a temporary gaming facility to open in July. The event will be held May 19-20 at Cleveland Community C ... Read more Tribes are devastated after one year of COVID-19 March 18, 2021 - As the Covid-19 pandemic began spreading across our nation last year, its impact became the most deadly in our tribal communities. Tribal economies also collapsed as casinos were shut down ... Read more NC Cherokee casinos get federal approval for sportsbooks March 8, 2021 - This week the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians received the final approval needed to open "The Book" sportsbook at each of their two North Carolina casinos. An opening date is expected ... Read more Catawba Indian Nation signs gaming compact with Gov. Cooper January 27, 2021 - The Catawba Two Kings Casino took a major step forward when the Catawba Indian Nation signed a gaming compact with Gov. Roy Cooper last Friday. The gaming agreement will allow Two Kings ... Read more Kings Mountain casino construction faces showdown in court January 19, 2021 - As the Catawba Indian Nation continues construction on its Two Kings Casino at Kings Mountain, NC, a showdown in federal court with the Eastern Band of Cherokees is coming in ... Read more Kings Mountain Casino plans temporary opening this Fall January 10, 2021 - The Catawba Indian Nation plans to build a 60,000-square-foot initial casino that will open this fall. Tribal Administrator Elizabeth Harris said "After clearing is complete, we will begin building an ... Read more

2020

North Carolina Tribe will purchase Caesars Southern Indiana Casino December 20, 2020 - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have been negotiating with Caesars Entertainment to purchase Caesars Southern Indiana Casino in Elizabeth, IN near Louisville, Kentucky. ... Read more NC Governor approves sports betting at Harrah's Cherokee Casinos December 9, 2020 - After an excessively long delay, Gov. Roy Cooper signed a sports betting agreement with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to allow sports betting at Harrah's Cherokee ... Read more Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians forms company to buy non-tribal casinos December 2, 2020 - Last month the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council approved a measure to create a limited liability corporation for the purpose of acquiring other casinos ... Read more Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is negotiating purchase of Caesars Southern Indiana November 24, 2020 - The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is negotiating with Caesars Entertainment Inc. to purchase Caesars Southern Indiana casino across from Louisville, KY ... Read more Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians fight two potential casino rivals November 23, 2020 - For 25 years the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has owned the only casinos in North Carolina. However, that may change in the next few years as new competition comes from ... Read more Federal Bill introduced to protect NC Land for Catawba Two Kings Casino October 30, 2020 - A bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month to support the transfer North Carolina land owned by the Catawba Indians of South Carolina into ... Read more New North Carolina casino is named 'Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort' September 3, 2020 - Last Friday the Catawba Indian Nation announced the official name of the new casino under construction at Kings Mountain, NC will be the "Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort". ... Read more Catawba Indians start construction on $300M Kings Mountain casino July 24, 2020 - The Catawba Indians celebrated the groundbreaking for their $300M Kings Mountain casino resort on Wednesday morning, and construction began Thursday morning. ... Read more Kings Mountain Casino plan gets federal approval March 19, 2020 - The U.S. Department of Interior has approved plans submitted by the Catawba Indian Nation to build a $273M casino resort in Kings Mountain, NC. The tribe is headquartered in South Carolina. ... Read more Harrah's Cherokee Casinos reopen May 28 May 28, 2020 - Both Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Hotel & Casino reopened today May 28. Both have been closed since May 18 when they were shut down against COVID-19 ... Read more Catawba's King Mountain Casino is opposed by Buncombe County August 23, 2020 - Buncombe County has joined the Eastern Band of Cherokee in opposition to the tribal casino under construction by the Catawba Indian Nation at Kings Mountain, NC. The ... Read more North Carolina Casino News Archive ...

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