The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians could be negatively impacted by a Catawba Nation casino in North Carolina, Chief Michell Hicks said. The Cherokees operate a Class III gaming facility and are moving forward with a second one. Their compact guarantees regional exclusivity in exchange for revenue sharing with the state. "Based on the newly released information provided by Cleveland County, we are greatly concerned that this development will negatively impact job growth and revenue at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and for the western region of North Carolina," Hicks said in a statement to The Cherokee One Feather, the tribe's newspaper. "We will continue to monitor the project and make a full determination as to the full impact it will have on Cherokee.” The Catawbas want to open a casino on 16 acres in Kings Mountain. The site is about 133 miles from the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. “If you look at Cherokee, you can see they have been an excellent partner with the state of North Carolina," Catawba Chief Bill Harris told The Gaston Gazette. "All we wish to do is follow in their footsteps.” Kings Mountain is outside of the Cherokee exclusivity zone so a casino there presumably would not affect the revenue sharing provisions in the compact. The Catawbas do not have a compact with North Carolina. Get the Story:
Catawbas seeking casino in North Carolina (The Cherokee One Feather 9/11)
Catawba chief explains why NC makes sense for casino (The Gaston Gazette 9/11)
How proposed resort could impact you (The Shelby Star 9/11)
Mayor: Consider all impacts of Catawba resort (The Shelby Star 9/11)
Initial OK up to the feds for casino land: Catawba’s attorney (The Charlotte Business Journal 9/10)
Catawba Nation files application for NC casino (The Charlotte News & Observer 9/10) An Opinion:
EDITORIAL: Hard to argue against 4,000 new jobs (The Shelby Star 9/11)
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