Concerns about benefactors
A company generating profit through one of North Carolina’s new tribal casinos counts family members of politicians among its shareholders. According to a Wall Street Journal report on Sunday, the family members of high-profile political people received shares at a time when the project was seeking federal approval.
construction now at a halt due to a federal investigation
The Two Kings Casino Resort has been in the planning phase for a long time, with construction now at a halt due to a federal investigation. The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is reportedly investigating the Catawba Nation’s plans for its $273m casino project near Charlotte, North Carolina.
NIGC officials reportedly have concerns that the South Carolina-based tribe is not the predominant benefactor of the gaming operations – something that would contravene the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Numerous political links
Sunday’s Wall Street Journal report outlined numerous people with family ties to political figures who now hold shares in the Two Kings Casino Resort through subsidiary Kings Mountain Equipment Supply. This company receives 20% of the casino’s profits.
One of them is John Clyburn, a powerful congressman and the brother of Representative James Clyburn. He introduced a bill last year in Congress that paved the way for the Catawba Nation’s casino project approval.
Other people with stakes in the casino include well-known Democratic campaign organizer Patti Solis Doyle and the former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s husband.
Plans for the casino
The Two Kings Casino hopes to create 2,600 permanent jobs, offering approximately 1,800 gaming machines upon completion.
The tribe has operated a temporary casino for over a year at the site where the permanent casino will be. Initially, the tribe and Catawba’s gaming partner Delaware North hoped that the total construction of the permanent casino would take about one year. However, the project is now on hold.