Community questions: Discussions begin within the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. about potential casino project

By Faith Hatton, posted Jun 16, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

On Monday, June 1, 2026, Tribe members from District 2 and District 15, the districts surrounding the area currently planned for the casino, met for a community meeting.

Amidst the glitz and glamour of the idea of a new casino coming to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, members of the Tribe are preparing for an important vote taking place on June 23 that will make or break the project.

The Tribe received full federal recognition on Dec. 18, 2025, giving them the authority to pass a gaming ordinance to allow them to legally conduct gaming on their lands in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

On June 23, 2026, the Tribe’s members will vote to amend the tribal constitution to legally and clearly authorize gaming.

In late December of 2025, the Lumbee Tribe purchased 254.88 acres of land on I-95 next to exit 10 and announced the beginning plans for a casino and other hospitality-focused developments.

Included in those plans are the Lumbee Dark Water Resort, a “regional destination, for family entertainment and business leisure,” according to plans on the Tribe’s informational website.

Other phases of the plan include

A family hotel
Museum and heritage center
Retail space
Initial and Ultimate gaming facilities
A leisure hotel
Convention & entertainment center
Condo hotels
A golf course

Now, communities are having discussions about the impact of the project and what that could mean for their individual districts and the Tribe as a whole.

On Monday, June 1, 2026, Tribe members from District 2 and District 15, the districts surrounding the area currently planned for the casino, met for a community meeting Tribal Chairman of the Lumbee Tribe John Lowery joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams and started the discussion with a Power Point presentation outlining the current plans for the project, its economic impact and potential benefits for the Tribe should the casino be built. During his presentation, he also gave an overview of how other Tribes across the country are operating casinos in their territories.

Following Chairman Lowery’s presentation, District 2 Representative Graylen Mitchell and District 15 Representative Sharon Hunt answered questions from community members. Some of the questions included concerns about the timeline of the project and the timing of the vote, what efforts were being done to educate Elders before they vote, where Tribe members can access the Tribe’s constitution and what will happen if the Tribe votes not to allow gaming.

While the project is still in the early planning stages, representatives encouraged members to view some of the online resources available for more information.

Since announcing the project, the Tribe has taken efforts to educate members about the project plans and the importance of the upcoming vote. The Lumbee Tribe launched LumbeesChoose.com to help answer common questions, provide a layout of the things planned and provide more details about the next steps of the project.

The casino is being planned in two parts; An initial
gaming facility that will include gaming devices, food and beverage and office spaces and an ultimate gaming facility that
will expand gaming, restaurant and hospitality offerings.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LUMBEE TRIBE OF N.C.

According to the website, the Lumbee Tribe of NC would own 100% of the casino once built. If the amendment passes, the Tribal Council will have a gaming ordinance that approves and governs how the Tribe will legally conduct gaming on its lands under IGRA. The ordinance must then be approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), a federal regulatory agency.

The Tribal Gaming Commission would be an independent Tribal regulatory body responsible for regulating gaming operations to ensure compliance with tribal, state and federal law. Members of the Gaming Commission would be nominated by the Chairman and approved by the Tribal Council.

The Tribe has also launched the Vote Yes For Lumbees Facebook page to help share testimonies, opinions and information in support of the project on social media.

While the Tribe did not respond to the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s request for comment, Chairman Lowery shared his support for the project in a released video, stating in part:

Hotels and entertainment options are also in the works.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LUMBEE TRIBE OF N.C.

“This effort is about protecting the Lumbee Tribe’s opportunity to create long-term economic growth that directly benefits our people…Our goal is simple, to ensure and protect the Lumbee Tribe, and to make sure we have a fair opportunity to build a successful economic enterprise that benefits our people before commercial outside interests control the market.”

The amendment is going to be up for vote on June 23, 2026. Tribal members must be 18 years or older and must vote in person. Absentee ballots should have been received by May 22, 2026. For more information about the current project, visit LumbeesChoose.com.

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