The “pre-launch,” 500-slot modular facility for the Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, North Carolina has been open slightly more than one month. But a date finally has been set for the groundbreaking of the permanent $273 million casino: Wednesday, August 11.
Mike Ulizio, president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, said, “We are working toward beginning construction on the introductory phase, which will be part of the permanent casino and feature an additional 1,300 slot machines, restaurants and other amenities by year’s end. That phase will take about a year to complete.” Ulizio said the temporary facility employs 250 people and the permanent one will create 2,600 new jobs.
Catawba Nation Chief Bill Harris commented, “Catawba Two Kings Casino represents the righting of a historical wrong for the Catawba Nation. But it is also so much more. It represents a prosperous future and renewed kinship between the Catawba Nation and the many communities that now occupy Catawba ancestral lands, including Kings Mountain, Cleveland County and the state of North Carolina.”
Ulizio noted, “We’ve seen plenty of big winners over the first month, and we regularly post them on @twokingscasino on Instagram. We’ve seen several win more than $10,000 and had one player from Gaston County win $75,000.”
He said on opening day, July 1, the line to enter the casino wrapped around the building. “Since then, business has been very good and we are seeing a steady week-over-week increase in the number of players,” Ulizio said.
He added, “We have now signed up 27,000 people for the players club, which is remarkable given we’ve only been open a month. The casino has steady crowds on weekdays but we are seeing significantly more patrons on weekends.”
