Catawba Indians to build 2 more NC casinos, chief says. Sites identified.
The Catawba Indians will build two more North Carolina casinos and have identified the sites, Chief Brian Harris said Wednesday as the tribe celebrated the opening of the first part of its $1.2 billion casino in Kings Mountain.
“We got two more casinos to build in this state, and goddamn we’re going to build them,” Harris told 500 tribal members and others at a ribbon cutting for the first phase of the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort, off Interstate 85 exit 5, 35 miles west of Charlotte.
Harris declined to identify the two sites when asked by The Charlotte Observer after the ceremony.
“I can’t tell you that right now, Harris said. “It’s all about negotiations. We’ve identified the locations. We’re in preliminary negotiations right now. And once those come to fruition, when we come to deal, we’ll make an announcement.”
As far as the Catawba’s existing casino, the first phase, known as the introductory casino, includes 1,350 slot machines, 36 electronic table games, 22 traditional table games, a 68-seat restaurant, 18-seat bar, sports betting kiosks and a player rewards desk. The casino is open 24/7.
The tribe expects to open the full casino in Kings Mountain in spring 2027 with 4,300 slot machines, 100 live table games, 11 tribal owned- and -operated restaurants, 11 bars and a 24-story, 385-room hotel. The casino will bring 2,200 permanent jobs, officials said.