Lumbee Tribal Council Seeks Legal Pathways for Casino After Member Referendum Rejection
The Lumbee Tribe is pursuing casino gaming under IGRA despite a referendum where 63% of 9,000 participating members out of 55,000 voted against it. The Tribal Council voted 17-1 to direct Joshua Malcolm to explore legal paths and seek Lumbee Supreme Court clarification on the constitution while drafting a new ordinance for feedback.
SCCG Take — Leadership persistence after the vote risks deepening member opposition unless the feedback process and court clarification directly address authority and timing concerns raised in the referendum.
The Lumbee Tribe is North Carolina’s largest and only recently obtained federal recognition by Congress. Despite a member referendum that rejected casino gaming, the Tribal Council is directing legal exploration of pathways under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) for a project in Robeson County.
An Earlier Casino Proposal Failed
Shortly after recognition, the Lumbee Tribe advanced a proposal for a casino in Robeson County. The measure was submitted to the tribe’s 55,000 members, with 9,000 participating. 63% of those voters rejected the proposition. Many cited the concentration of authority in the tribal chair, the speed of moves after recognition, and moral objections on religious grounds. Tribal chair John Lowery had previously stated that the vote results would be absolute.
Council Actions Signal Ongoing Commitment to Casino Project
The Tribal Council voted 17-1 to encourage general counsel Joshua Malcolm to examine every legal option for a casino and hospitality development. Council members argue the June vote opposed the amendment rather than casino gaming itself. They are now considering a request to the Lumbee Supreme Court for constitutional clarifications and have drafted a new gaming ordinance for member feedback via written comments.
As reported by GamblingNews, these steps show the leadership is not prepared to treat the referendum as final. The gap between the member vote and council direction carries risk of further internal division if the process is viewed as bypassing the expressed will of voters. Any successful route will require direct alignment with both legal standards and the concerns raised during the referendum.
Reporting: GamblingNews
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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