The Bureau of Indian Affairs recently approved a gaming compact between the Catawba Indian Nation and the state of North Carolina. The deal allows the tribe, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to build the $273 million Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort at Kings Mountain, about 30 minutes west of Charlotte. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed the compact in January.
Catawba Chief Bill Harris said a “pre-launch” facility will open this summer with 500 slot machines. He said next year the tribe will open an introductory portion of the full casino with an additional 1,300 slot machines. Completion is expected to take about a year. The project will create thousands of construction jobs and 2,600 permanent jobs, Harris said.
“With the completion of our compact with the state of North Carolina, the Catawba Nation is eager to open the casino as quickly as possible to begin bringing economic benefits and jobs to the state and region. We’re working with Delaware North, our consultant on the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort project, as well as our developer, Skyboat Gaming, to make that happen,” Harris stated.
Under the new compact, the tribe will pay up to 8 percent of gaming revenue to the state. In addition, casino revenue will go toward an environmental conservation education fund, employment opportunities on and near Catawba lands and other community initiatives.
The Eastern Band of the Cherokees currently operates two Harrah’s Cherokee casinos in the southwestern corner of the state. Last year the tribe sued the Catawbas and the Department of the Interior in federal court in an effort to stop the Catawba casino. The suit still is pending. It claims South Carolina developer Wallace Cheves applied political pressure so the Catawbas could advance their casino without congressional approval.
Cheves said besides the casino he plans to build 600 homes and luxury apartments across from the casino on Interstate 85.
The Catawbas claim historical and ancestral ties to land in North Carolina. They said a 1993 agreement granting them federal recognition also gave them the right to land for a casino. However, the Cherokees called the Catawbas’ efforts “a modern-day land grab” since casino gambling is not allowed in South Carolina.
