Lumbee Casino on Hold After Tribe Votes Against Gambling Amendment

^{The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, which received full federal recognition in December, voted to reject a constitutional amendment that would have paved the way for the Dark Water Resort and Casino. (Photo: Edwin Remsberg / Alamy)}

Nearly 10,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe voted on a constitutional amendment on Tuesday that would have paved the way for the tribe to build a casino in Robeson County, North Carolina. According to unofficial results for the Lumbee Tribe Elections Board, about 62% of voters rejected that same amendment.

The vote was the latest chapter in the Lumbee Tribe's long road to casino gaming, following its full federal recognition in December 2025, which allowed it to offer gambling on tribal land for the first time. 

‘No’ Voters Reject Consolidation of Power Over Gaming Decisions

The results came as a sharp rebuke to tribal leaders, who framed the decision as a virtual up or down vote on the Dark Water Resort, which would be built on a 241-acre parcel of land the tribe purchased after earning federal recognition.

The existing Lumbee constitution already allows the tribe to pursue gaming, but requires a referendum in which at least 30% of eligible tribal members participate and a majority vote yes. The proposed amendment would have replaced that system, giving the tribal chairman more authority to negotiate gaming compacts with the state and nominate members to gaming regulatory boards. 

But some of those who voted against the proposal said that they weren’t concerned about gambling, but rather how much authority the amendment would give tribal leaders over future gaming decisions.

“It’s just disappointing at how this vote was painted or portrayed to be a yes or no, up or down for gaming,” Lumbee Tribe member Robin Branch told WRAL News. “Once [a portion of the constitution allowing members to authorize gaming is removed], that authorization falls to our elected officials, chairman, and council.”

Tribal Chairman John Lowery acknowledged that the “No” voters had won, and said that he would not bring the question up to vote again for the remainder of his 18-month term. Still, he said, the decision was disappointing and would make it harder for the tribe to improve its financial standing.

“Tonight, a majority of the Lumbee people have spoken, and they have said no to progress and have decided to stay with the status quo or simply staying with the way things are,” Lowery wrote on his Facebook page. “As a federally recognized Indian tribe, we had the opportunity, like so many of our brother and sister tribes, to exercise our sovereign rights to the fullest and generate billions of dollars to assist our tribal members and lift this entire region. This decision by the majority of Lumbee voters is historic and ensures we will not move forward with gaming.”

Tribal leaders are scheduled to have an emergency meeting on Thursday, June 25, to discuss next steps, with the agenda including a formal "discussion of next steps following the vote." 

Supporters Fear Missing Out on Casino Rush

Some tribal members say that if the Lumbee don’t act now, they could be left behind by other tribes in the region. There are concerns that casinos could come elsewhere on the I-95 corridor, especially in South Carolina. 

The most developed plans are near Dillon and Marlboro Counties, which sit directly on the North Carolina state line. The state is also in the middle of a gubernatorial race in which casino expansion has become a notable issue among candidates, with some candidates expressing more openness to gambling than the current governor.

“I think it’s a threat,” Lumbee Tribe member Wanda Burns-Ramsey told WRAL News. “Why would we take that chance when we have huge support right now for federal recognition? The timing is perfect.”

The Lumbee Tribe is one of many across the country that has considered entering the gambling industry to bring revenue to their communities. Learn more about tribal gaming's impact across North America as Casinos.com celebrates Tribal Gaming Month.