Published on: December 18, 2025, 07:57h.
Updated on: December 18, 2025, 07:57h.
- Lumbee Tribe achieves federal recognition after over a century of struggle
- Recognition provides sovereignty, rights to land trusts, and eligibility for casinos
- While casino interests are present, the tribe is maintaining a careful stance
The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is on the verge of receiving federal recognition with literally one presidential signature left. This landmark decision attaches a provision for the 60,000-member tribe to the National Defense Authorization Act, which was successfully passed by Congress on Wednesday.
According to the White House, President Donald Trump is set to sign the $901 billion defense spending bill into law. The President has previously expressed his support for the Lumbee’s quest for recognition, particularly in a pivotal battleground like North Carolina where the tribe could represent a significant voting bloc of 60,000.
The Lumbee Tribe has sought federal recognition for an impressive 130 years. Gaining this status classifies the tribe as a sovereign entity, opening up access to various federal resources, legal acknowledgment, and privileges such as placing lands into trust and managing casinos.
Is a Lumbee Casino in the Future?
The tribe has been relatively quiet regarding the possibility of establishing South Carolina’s fourth casino, opting instead to highlight the numerous other benefits that come with full sovereignty.
“This is going to be an incredibly emotional moment for us. It’s a time for celebration and happiness,” stated Lumbee Tribe member Charles Graham in an interview with the Associated Press. “We can finally embrace our principles and fully represent who we are, where we’ve come from, and our sovereignty, all with a great sense of pride.”
Nonetheless, interest in a casino has recently been evident, particularly when a bill aimed at authorizing four new commercial gaming locations in North Carolina, including one for the Lumbee, was proposed in 2023 but ultimately did not pass.
As of now, North Carolina is home to three casinos: two run by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and one owned by the Catawba Indian Nation.
A potential Lumbee casino would likely be located in southeastern North Carolina, either on or near tribal lands in Robeson County and neighboring regions where the majority of the tribe’s population resides.
If a casino were established near Interstate 95, it would become the only gaming establishment along that route between New Jersey and Florida, strategically positioned to attract both local and through-traffic customers.
Critics of Lumbee Recognition
Some of the most vocal critics of Lumbee recognition include other tribes, such as the EBCI, who argue that the Lumbee have not sufficiently proven a verifiable, continuous lineage from a historically recognized tribe—a crucial criterion for federal recognition. Detractors highlight that the tribe has historically been known by various names, including the Cherokee Indians of Robeson County.
The Lumbee Tribe asserts that their ancestry traces back to the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan language families, and they have been officially recognized by the state of North Carolina since 1885.