Cherokee Casino Sees Significant Growth

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Cherokee Casino Sees Significant Growth

Special Report - January 31, 2007
Revenue growth at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, in 2005, has propelled North Carolina into a top 10 position among states with Indian casino gambling.

The latest version of Casino City’s annual Indian Gaming Industry Report, written by economist Alan Meister of the Analysis Group, Inc., offers state-by-state analysis of the Indian casino gambling industry, including data on revenue, facilities, and gaming formats. The 2006-2007 issue of the report found that gambling revenue increased by 17.2 percent in the Tar Heel state in 2005, making North Carolina one of the fastest growing states in generating gambling revenue in the nation, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. Among other key findings, the report also concluded that 62 percent of Indian casino revenue is generated by just five states and that Indian gaming continues to expand at a 15 percent national growth rate.

The new report comes shortly before the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which owns North Carolina’s only Indian casino operation located in the western part of the state, announced plans to initiate a $650 million extension of the casino’s facilities. The plan includes expanding hotel accommodations, retail stores, and floor room for gambling, according to the Associated Press. The tribal council passed the resolution on January 30 and Principal Chief Michell Hicks is expected to grant final approval.

For years, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has sought modifications to its tribal-state compact with the North Carolina government in an effort to expand the forms of gambling allowed on the tribe’s reservation. Currently, gambling at the casino is limited to bingo, raffles, and video-based games, but revisions proposed by the tribe would allow Las Vegas style gambling involving live dealers conducting games such as poker, craps, and blackjack. In April 2006, negotiations between the Cherokees and Governor Mike Easley’s office allegedly fell apart after both sides failed to agree on a plan for allocating a percentage of casino profits for state government programs.

To learn more about Indian gambling in North Carolina, download our policy paper entitled "Expanding Indian Gambling: Could Harrah's Casino Become N.C.'s Atlantic City?"