Catawba Indian Nation officially activated the new operational phase of Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort; a nearly US$1 billion gaming megaproject designed to reshape the casino market in the southeastern United States and challenge the long-standing dominance of Cherokee gaming operations in North Carolina.
The new “Introductory Casino” officially opened on May 20, 2026, in Kings Mountain, located alongside Interstate 85 and approximately 35 miles west of Charlotte. The venue serves as a transition toward the full permanent resort scheduled to open in spring 2027. The opening marks a major turning point for a project that spent more than a decade navigating political disputes, tribal conflicts and federal regulatory reviews under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The new gaming facility features 1,350 slot machines, 22 live table games, electronic table games, sportsbook kiosks, sports betting operations, a 68-seat restaurant, an 18-seat bar, high-limit gaming areas and the Lucky North Rewards loyalty program.
The final resort will become one of the largest tribal casinos on the U.S. East Coast, including a 24-story hotel, 385 hotel rooms, more than 4,300 slot machines, over 100 live gaming tables, 11 restaurants, 11 bars, retail space, entertainment areas and parking capacity for more than 3,500 vehicles across approximately 2.2 million square feet.
The project is owned by the Catawba Nation and led by tribal chief Brian Harris alongside gaming vice president Trent Troxel. Strategic gaming and hospitality partner Delaware North manages operations, while Yates-Metcon oversees construction.
Tribal chief Brian Harris
The decisive breakthrough came in 2020 when the U.S. Department of the Interior officially placed the land into federal trust for the tribe, allowing the gaming development to move forward under tribal and federal regulation.
Two Kings is projected to generate approximately 2,200 permanent jobs and position Kings Mountain as a new gaming tourism hub for both North Carolina and South Carolina. For the Catawba Nation, the resort represents the largest economic development project in tribal history and a major expansion of premium tribal gaming in the United States.
