U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis have introduced legislation supporting efforts of the Catawba Indian Nation to build and operate an Indian gaming facility in King’s Mountain, North Carolina.
The site falls within the service area of the tribe, which includes parts of North and South Carolina. The tribe’s proposed 220,000 square foot resort would create over 4,000 jobs.
The annual economic impact on the local community would be an estimated $350 million. Four years ago, the Catawbas submitted an application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs seeking the ability to operate a casino.
No action has been taken on the application. The Senators noted that this legislation requires any Catawba gaming in North Carolina to be in full compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a federal law which regulates Indian gaming.