Catawba Two Kings Casino
Catawba Two Kings Casino is a tribal casino in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, approximately 35 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina, overlooking Interstate 85. The casino is owned by the Catawba Indian Nation and managed by Delaware North. There is currently a temporary modular "pre-launch" casino that has 1,000 slot machines and electronic table games available until the final casino resort is built. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 and be completed in two to three years. The finished casino is expected to have 3,000 slot machines and 120 table games while also including a 400 hotel room tower. History
The name of the casino, Two Kings, refers to the 18th century Catawba Chief King Hagler and the city of Kings Mountain. The temporary casino opened on July 1, 2021 with 500 slot machines. The casino expanded in December 2021 to have a total of 954 slot machines while  also adding 46 electronic table games which include Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette. In September 2022, the casino added 30 kiosks which allowed players to place sports bets. Federal investigation and political connections
In March 2022, the chief compliance officer of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) alerted the Catawba Nation to issues with their contract and that business agreements with partners violate the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. It warned that if they aren’t brought into compliance, the tribe could face fines and temporary closure of the casino. The NIGC's role is to ensure that Indian gaming is conducted in compliance with federal law and that the tribe's revenues are used in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the tribe and its members. On July 31, 2022, The Wall Street Journal published a report revealing that individuals with political connections in North Carolina and South Carolina received shares in companies connected to the casino while it was seeking approval to open. This brought concerns about potential conflicts of interest as it appeared politicians used their influence to benefit the casino and the companies they are connected to, rather than that of the public. Some of the political connections included the husband of Nikki Haley, Michael Haley, and brother of South Carolina representative Jim Clyburn, John Clyburn, who were discovered to have ownership in the slot machine company, Kings Mountain Equipment Supply. The casino is currently appealing the violation issued by the National Indian Gaming Commission. See also
 Gambling in North Carolina

References

Casinos in North Carolina
2021 establishments in North Carolina
Catawba
Buildings and structures in Cleveland County, North Carolina
Native American casinos