- After 137 years of waiting, the Lumbee Tribe finally secured federal recognition, opening the door to build a casino in the Fayetteville area along I-95.
- Their location would dominate the entire I-95 corridor between New Jersey and Florida since no other casinos exist on that stretch of highway.
- Cherokee tribes in Western North Carolina opposed the recognition, fearing it would cut into their casino profits and create competition for government funding.
PEMBROKE - The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is finally getting federal recognition after waiting 137 years, and that could mean a casino is coming to the southeastern part of the state.
On Wednesday, the Senate approved the recognition as a component of the bill pertaining to the defense budget. The Lumbee will become the 575th federally recognized tribe in the nation when it is signed by President Donald Trump.
The Lumbee are also able to create reservation territory in the counties of Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland thanks to federal recognition. This area has easy access to Interstate 95 and includes Fayetteville as well as towns like Lumberton and Pembroke.
There would be a big geographic benefit for a casino situated along that corridor. Since there are no other casinos on I-95 between New Jersey and Florida, the Lumbee are well-positioned to attract tourists and local gamblers passing via one of the busiest routes on the East Coast.
What This Means for Gaming
The Lumbee are granted sovereignty by federal recognition, allowing them to manage casinos on tribal grounds and put land into trust. According to the new law, only land in Robeson County qualifies as official reservation territory, thus any casino would have to relocate there.
Regarding proposals to legal blackjack and other table gaming, the tribe has been largely silent. In their public remarks, they have emphasized the government resources, health care, and education financing that their 60,000 members receive as a result of their recognition.
The tribe has shown a sincere desire to construct a casino. They could have done so under a 2023 state bill, but it was never put to a vote. Robeson County is one of the poorest counties in North Carolina, and tribal leaders are always discussing how a casino could boost the local economy.
However, not everyone is having a good time. For many years, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who run two casinos in Western North Carolina, battled against Lumbee recognition. Concerned about losing business to North Carolina blackjack sites and vying for federal financing, they questioned the tribe's historical claims.
The Lumbee are at last receiving what they have battled for since 1888, with Trump's signature expected any day. It remains to be seen if that will result in a casino close to Fayetteville, but all the necessary elements are in place to do so.