The Catawba Indians plan to expand their gaming operations with a $120 million thoroughbred racing track beside their $1 billion North Carolina casino, tribal officials said in laying out a business plan for the new venture on tribal social media this week.
“Expanding into horse racing represents a natural evolution of our gaming enterprise,” officials with the Rock Hill-based tribe said.
Two Kings Horse Racing Track would be developed over five years, 2026 to 2030, creating 250 to 350 permanent jobs and $42 million to $58 million in projected revenue in its fifth year, according to the plan.
With the nearest major racing tracks at least 150 miles away, “North Carolina represents an underserved market for horse racing entertainment,” officials said.
Virginia has nearest horse race betting track to NC
The closest major parimutuel betting horse racing track to North Carolina appears to be Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, Virginia. That’s east of Richmond and nearly 200 miles northeast of Raleigh-Durham.
An N.C. House bill ratified in 2023 legalized parimutuel betting. Applications for licenses to offer and accept such bets are not yet authorized, however, as the N.C. State Lottery Commission continues to work on a pari-mutuel wagering program.
The Catawba said they would seek partnership opportunities with the North Carolina lottery for simulcast racing.
“Substantial employment opportunities
The track would operate under the authority of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which Congress enacted in 1988 to regulate gaming on Indian lands.
Tribal gaming authority and communications officials didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment from The Charlotte Observer this week.
In their business plan, tribal officials say the “state-of-the-art” track “will diversify our gaming portfolio, create substantial employment opportunities and generate significant revenue for tribal programs and economic development.”
The track would have an existing customer base in the 300,000-plus annual Two Kings Casino visitors, officials said. The permanent casino is rising off Interstate 85 exit 5 in Kings Mountain, about 35 miles west of Charlotte.
The first part of the Catawba Indians’ $1 billion casino will open over the next two months, Chief Brian Harris said in a recent online update of tribal construction projects.
The first-floor introductory casino will include 1,350 slot machines, 22 table games, a 68-seat restaurant, an 18-seat bar, sports betting kiosks and a rewards desk, tribal officials said during a “topping off” ceremony for the $1 billion casino in October.
The introductory casino will replace the current, single-story one that opened in July 2021. The trailers make up the existing casino.
Joe Marusak
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