North Carolina’s Newly Recognized Lumbee Tribe Advances Constitutional Amendment Toward Casino

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s leadership voted 17-2 to amend its governing constitution in an early step toward a potential casino along Interstate 95. The move follows a purchase of 241 acres of land in January, shortly after the tribe secured full federal recognition in December 2025.

The amendment does not explicitly mention or authorize gaming. However, for North Carolina’s newly recognized tribe, with roughly 55,000 to 60,000 enrolled members, it signals a clear step towards a potential casino.

After the Tribal Council vote, the full tribe membership must approve the measure.

Amendment Builds the Governance Framework

The Lumbee constitution establishes the tribe’s authority to enact ordinances, regulate internal affairs, and oversee economic activity. If approved, the amendment would update that framework. The changes would allow the tribal government to:

• Formalize regulatory oversight structures
• Enable commercial and sovereign partnerships with developers and state agencies
• Define revenue allocation mechanisms ahead of any gaming proceeds
• Federal Recognition and Land Purchase

The Lumbee have been pursuing federal recognition for over a century. The tribe received partial federal acknowledgment under the Lumbee Act of 1956, which explicitly denied eligibility for federal Indian programs and benefits afforded to other recognized tribes.

The tribe finally secured full federal recognition on December 17, 2025, establishing a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States. That recognition allows the tribe to pursue gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), including the ability to place land into federal trust — a prerequisite for a tribal casino.

Tribal Chairman John Lowery has previously said federal recognition alone is expected to generate $70 million to $80 million annually through federal programs.

The tribe moved quickly after the recognition towards a potential casino. In January, it purchased approximately 241 acres near I-95 in Robeson County, close to the South Carolina border.

The site sits near a major interchange on one of the East Coast’s busiest travel routes, offering the kind of visibility and access typically sought for large-scale casino developments. Estimates suggest that a potential casino project could create 3,000 jobs, a figure that would reshape Robeson County, one of North Carolina’s most economically distressed regions.

Existing Tribal Casinos and Regional Competition

A Lumbee casino would become the fourth tribal casino in North Carolina. There are currently three tribal casinos operating under the IGRA:

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee)
• Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel (Murphy)
• Catawba Two Kings Casino (Kings Mountain)

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians operates both Harrah’s casinos in western North Carolina. Meanwhile, the Catawba Nation operates the Two Kings Casino, which is currently opening in phases, with a permanent facility expected in 2027.

Tensions between the tribes have surfaced before, particularly around competing casino proposals and recognition efforts. Both the Catawba and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians formally opposed Lumbee federal recognition at a Senate hearing in November 2025, citing gaming competition.

The Lumbees’ move comes amid failed efforts for a casino on the other side of the border in South Carolina. There, lawmakers explored a constitutional amendment tied to an I-95 casino corridor project to revitalize lower-opportunity regions.

A Lumbee casino near the South Carolina border would draw customers from two states in an area with little competition.

What Comes Next

Despite recent progress, a Lumbee casino is still several steps away from becoming a reality. Necessary next steps include:

• Membership approval of the constitutional amendment
• Federal land-into-trust approval through the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• State compact negotiations for Class III gaming under IGRA
• Regulatory and environmental approvals for the Robeson County site

Each stage carries its own timeline and political risk. The land-into-trust process alone often takes multiple years, and the process has historically been subject to delays and reversals.

However, the Lumbee have signaled that preparations are already underway.