Artist's rendering of proposed Catawba Nation casino in North Carolina. Image from Catawba Nation Project Brief
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) claims the Catawba Nation of South Carolina is exploiting a "loophole" in its bid for an out-of-state casino. Class III gaming is legal in South Carolina. There are no laws barring the Catawba Nation from seeking trust land or pursuing gaming in that state or pursuing but McCrory is questioning the tribe's proposal. “It would be a loophole for the whole gaming industry where they would find islands within our state for casinos, to jump borders and form a new island of gaming,” McCrory told business leaders, The Charlotte Business Journal reported. The tribe filed a land-into-trust application with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to use 16 acres in Cleveland County for a $600 million resort. Plans call for a 220,000 square-foot casino, two hotels with a combined 750 rooms, multiple restaurants and retail shopping venues. A land claim settlement that was enacted by Congress in 1993 includes Cleveland County in the tribe's service area. Get the Story:
NC Gov. Pat McCrory questions ‘loophole’ Catawba casino would create by opening in Kings Mountain (The Charlotte Business Journal 9/23) Related Stories:
Column: Governor won't support Catawba Nation's gaming plan (9/18)
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