A year after breaking ground on a $1 billion project, Two Kings, a North Carolina casino resort, is getting closer to opening its first phase.
Key takeaways
- North Carolina’s largest casino project near a metro area is scheduled to be fully complete in 2027.
- The introductory casino will include 1,350 slot machines, 20 table games, and sports betting kiosks.
- Three tribal casinos operate in the Tar Heel State.
Two Kings Casino has been running out of a temporary location since July 2021, but a new “introductory” gaming site is set to open in spring 2026, according to an announcement Wednesday from gaming and hospitality management partner Delaware North.
This phase of the Catawba Tribe-owned casino will feature 1,350 slot machines, 20 table games, sports betting kiosks, and a 40-seat restaurant and bar. The establishment is located 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the North Carolina-South Carolina border.
The foundations for the casino complex and the 24-story, 385-room hotel are finished, part of the second phase. Construction crews completed 10 stories of framing, with additional floors set to be added every week. Multiple infrastructure works surrounding the property were also completed.
Construction adjacent to the temporary casino began in early June 2024, with the project expected to be finished in 2027.
More to come
Once the billion-dollar project is fully built, the resort will feature 4,300 slot machines, 100 table games, 11 dining venues, a players' lounge, 11 bars, and a 2,700-space parking garage built under the casino complex, along with 800 surface parking spaces.
“This casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said. “This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations.”
The project has already created hundreds of construction jobs, and Two Kings expects to employ around 2,200 people when fully operational.
Tar Heel State gaming
Two Kings is one of just three tribal casinos currently operating in North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokees, through a partnership with Caesars Entertainment, runs two in-person gambling establishments in the state's Western mountain region.
Two Kings will be North Carolina's closest major casino resort to a metropolitan area, located right off busy Interstate 85. The current temporary casino offers slots and limited table games, as well as an in-person sportsbook with betting kiosks.
There are eight mobile North Carolina sports betting operators currently, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365, Fanatics Sportsbook, ESPN BET, Caesars, and Underdog. The Catawba applied for one of the Tar Heel State's online sports betting licenses but have yet to announce an operating partner.
North Carolina retail sports wagering currently only operates at three tribal casinos.
