Published on: May 9, 2026, 04:43h.
Updated on: May 8, 2026, 03:35h.
- A North Carolina Tribe is set to decide on a casino project this June
- The Lumbee Tribe is evaluating plans for a casino along Interstate 95 in southeastern North Carolina
A potential fourth casino may emerge in North Carolina, contingent on the outcome of a special election scheduled for June.
The Lumbee Tribe has scheduled a special election for June 23, where members will vote on granting the Tribal Council the power to oversee casino gambling operations.
Should the constitutional amendment pass, the Lumbee Tribe will be authorized to establish a casino on their sovereign land in Robeson County. In 2025, they acquired a 241-acre plot near I-95 for $6 million.
After years of efforts, last year the Lumbee people obtained federal recognition, allowing them to conduct Class I and II gaming, according to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, on their land.
To offer slot machines and live dealer table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, the Lumbee Tribe needs to negotiate a Class III compact with the state. As of now, the tribe has not publicly announced a partnership for developing and managing the casino.
Tribal Casinos in North Carolina
The Lumbee Tribe aims to join the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Catawba Nation as operators of tribal casinos in North Carolina.
The Cherokee Tribe manages Harrah’s Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, in collaboration with Caesars Entertainment. Meanwhile, the Catawba Nation is currently constructing the permanent Two Kings Casino Resort, while its temporary facility remains operational, with Delaware North as their partner.
The Lumbee Tribe stands as the largest Native American community in North Carolina, with an estimated population of about 60,000.
“The path we take toward economic development, whether it includes gaming or not, will rely on what the Lumbee people decide,” stated Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery. “If our community votes in favor of gaming, this 241-acre site could become a casino and resort.”
The land is situated near Chicken Road, close to McDonald and Raynham. In addition to a casino and hotel, the planned resort will feature multiple amenities, including a golf course, a Topgolf-style driving range, and a water park.
If gaming is rejected by the tribe, Lowery indicates that the land could still be utilized for various economic and development projects.
I-95 serves as the main interstate on the Eastern Seaboard, connecting cities from Miami to Maine, including Jacksonville, Savannah, Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, New York City, and Boston. The proposed Lumbee casino would be conveniently located between Columbia to the south and Raleigh to the north.
Trump-Backed Tribal Recognition
The federal Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, under President Donald Trump, was instrumental in acknowledging the tribe’s sovereign status.
North Carolina played a crucial role as a swing state in the 2024 election, where Trump narrowly secured victory with 50.86% of the votes.