A North Carolina casino finally has a date to begin construction on its $700 million permanent gaming and hotel site.
Two Kings Casino, owned and operated by the Catawba Nation, announced they will break ground on June 7 after recently settling a lawsuit over the ground lease with a former developer.
“We persevered to achieve a fair deal so that we can now realize the full financial and economic benefits of the project for Catawba Nation members and residents of Cleveland County,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said in a statement. “The establishment of this casino is not just about bricks and mortar; it symbolizes our commitment to preserving our tribal identity, supporting our community and creating opportunities for our people.”
Catawba Two Kings is located 35 miles from Charlotte and just a few minutes from the South Carolina border along Interstate 85.
The only other two casinos in the Tar Heel State are run by the Eastern Band of Cherokees, who are partnered with Caesars Entertainment.
Two-phase project
Two Kings currently operates a one-story temporary facility that houses over 1,000 slots and video gaming machines and an in-person sportsbook. The Catawba have also applied for an online North Carolina sports betting license but have yet to partner with an operator.
The permanent gaming facility is a two-phase project.
The structure’s first phase will feature a ground-floor casino that will be completed by early 2026. It will include 1,350 slots and electronic games, 12 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, and a retail sportsbook with 30 self-service kiosks.
The second phase will be a 400-room hotel stacked on the ground floor. The final implementation will bolster the casino portion to 4,300 slot machines and 100 table games as well as five restaurants, six bars, and a players' lounge.
The project is expected to produce 2,000 jobs and “keep casino revenue in North Carolina.”
“This project will not only generate revenue for our tribe but also provide jobs, education, and social programs that will benefit our members and the surrounding region,” Harris said. “These jobs, including construction jobs, along with increased patron traffic, will provide local governments and the state of North Carolina with additional tax revenue and other investments under our compact.”
End of an era
Construction signifies the end of a contentious era between the Catawba Nation and casino developer Sky Boat Gaming.
The National Indian Gaming Commission determined in 2022 that the contract between the Catawbas and Sky Boat violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Sky Boat had too much control and management over the casino project. The Catawba had to agree to buy the land and obtain a parking lot owned by Kings Mountain Land Developement Partners, LLC, in which Skyboat owner Wallace Reves had an investment stake.
The gaming commission accepted a settlement agreement between the two sides late last year. Terms of the finalized settlement were not released.
