All updates on the Dark Water Resort proposal in North Carolina.
All Dark Water Resort 2026 News
Lumbee Tribe NC Casino Plans | Update March 2026
March 12, 2026
In January the Lumbee Tribe purchased 241 acres of farmland along Interstate 95 south of Lumberton in Robeson County as a possible building site for the first North Carolina casino east of Charlotte. The land has direct frontage on Interstate 95 and is near the interchange with Interstate 74.
A casino project will require approval by Lumbee tribal members, but no date for a vote has been announced.
"If and when our people vote for gaming, this 241-acre tract could serve as the site of a casino and resort, accompanied by a shopping outlet and additional amenities such as a golf course, a Top Golf-style facility, a water park, or similar attractions. If our people vote against gaming, the land can be developed into a business and industrial park designed to attract major employers."
- Lumbee Chairman John Lowery
The current major step is transferring all the land owned by the Lumbee Tribe, including the 241 acre Robeson County property, into federal trust. This gives tribal sovereignty to the land over state and local jurisdictions. When the land into trust process is completed, a tribal membership vote will likely be scheduled to determine the economic direction to be taken by the Lumbee Tribe.
There are currently only three casinos operating in North Carolina. The three are owned by Native American tribes. There are no state-licensed commercial casinos. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians owns two casinos: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC, and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy, NC. The Catawba Indian Nation is building a $1 billion casino resort, named Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort, in Kings Mountain, NC. A temporary casino has been operating on that site since July 2021. The full casino resort will be finished in Spring 2027.
The Lumbee sought federal recognition going back to 1888. During those 137 years, each attempt for recognition status failed. That changed in December 2025 when full federal recognition was granted in a National Defense Authorization Act.
The Lumbee Tribe is also a state-recognized tribe of North Carolina.
The tribe is headquartered in Robeson County. Tribal members live in Robeson County as well as the other surrounding counties in the southeast part of the state.
Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina 6984 NC Hwy 711 West Pembroke, NC 28372 (910) 521-7861 or (855) 801-9738
The Lumbee Tribe has acquired 241 acres of land in Robeson County, NC that may become the future site of a new casino. This follows December's major announcement that the federal government has given full recognition status to the tribe. Federal recognition gives the Lumbee the opportunity to transfer the land into federal trust making it eligible for gaming rights under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
[ No Ads ]
Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery Discusses Land Purchase and Land in Trust Process - Courtesy of Lumbee Tribe, Jan 22, 2026. Available from YouTube
Lumbee Chairman John L. Lowery has not disclosed the exact location of the 241-acre tract. However, The Robesonian newspaper reports the site is on Interstate 95 near exit 10 about 105 miles south of Raleigh.
"If and when our people vote for gaming, this 241-acre tract could serve as the site of a casino and resort, accompanied by a shopping outlet and additional amenities such as a golf course, a Top Golf-style facility, a water park, or similar attractions. If our people vote against gaming, the land can be developed into a business and industrial park designed to attract major employers."
- John L. Lowery, Lumbee Tribal Chairman
The Tribal Business News reported yesterday that the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is preparing a land-into-trust application to submit to the U.S. Department of Interior. This is the first major step towards economic development taken by the tribe since acquiring the 241-acre tract.
Disclaimer: All images are copyright to their respective owners and are used by 500 Nations for informational purposes only.
500 Nations is an independent directory and information service free of any gaming operator's control and not affiliated with any casino.
Warning: You must ensure you meet all age and other regulatory requirements before entering a casino or placing a wager.
There are hundreds of jurisdictions in the world with Internet access and hundreds of different games and gambling opportunities available on the Internet.
Do not assume that Internet gaming sites are in compliance with the rules and regulations of every jurisdiction from which they accept players.
YOU are responsible for determining if it is legal for YOU to play any particular game or place any particular wager under the laws of the jurisdiction where you are located.
#1 Choice of U.S. Players!
[ No Ads ]
