Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina Moving to Realize Casino Dreams

A North Carolina  native tribe is gearing up to open a casino along Interstate 95.

The leadership group of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina voted 17-2 to amend its constitution and open the door to the creation of a retail casino. A full vote for the tribe’s 55,000-60,000 enrolled members will ensue.

The Lumbee Tribe secured full federal recognition in Dec. 2025 and almost immediately thereafter purchased 241 acres of land in January.

North Carolina tribe eyes casino

Even if the Lumbees' complete membership vote supports the decision reached by its Tribal Council, the creation of a casino will not be explicitly supported. However, the basic operating structures for the management of a gaming facility will be in place.

The Lumbees’ current constitution allows its leaders to create laws, oversee internal affairs, and monitor economic activity. The amendment would grant it the newfound powers to create regulatory structures, authorize commercial partnerships, and define how it would share gaming revenue.

The tribe’s federal recognition was a major domino in its potential pursuit of a casino, fit with live-dealer table games and slot machines. Federal recognition is generally required for tribes to operate casinos under the Indiana Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, which allows approved tribes to erect casinos on native lands held by the government.

The Lumbee tribe has pursued federal recognition since the early 1900s. It was partially recognized under the Lumbee Act of 1956, although it wasn’t until Dec. 17 of last year that it took the next step. 

With its federal acknowledgement, the tribe is now able to place land into federal trust, a key step in the casino-building process.

The tribe’s chairman, John Lowery, previously said that federal recognition would create an extra $70-80 million in annual funding through government programs. 

A major opportunity

The Lumbees’ new plot of land is conveniently positioned off of I-95, which connects the majority of the East Coast. Estimates indicate that casino construction could create 3,000 jobs in Robeson County, which is about 40 miles south of Fayetteville.

North Carolina is home to three tribal casinos: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy, and Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians owns and operates the first two, and the third will be under the control of the Catawba Nation when it completes its permanent facility, expected in 2027.

While the Lumbee Nation is positioned for a casino, it still has a long way to go. On top of receiving approval from the full tribal membership, it must have its land-trust agreement approved by the Bureau of Indiana Affairs and be approved for a casino operator’s license. Additionally, it must meet regulatory standards in Robeson County.

The potential approval of a permanent resting place for a casino could prove to be a huge success. 

Robeson County’s southern border rests along the dividing line between North and South Carolina, the latter of which has resisted the urge to legalize casinos. Opening a gaming facility near or along the border would present an economic opportunity to draw South Carolina guests and residents across the border due to the lack of local gaming opportunity. 

The Lumbees have indicated that they are progressing toward completing the necessary steps to have a casino approved.