Catawba Two Kings Casino Opens First Phase In North Carolina

Catawba Two Kings Casino has opened the first phase of its $1.25 billion North Carolina project, bringing a larger gaming floor to Kings Mountain as work continues on the full resort.

Good to Know

• The first phase opened Wednesday at 10 a.m. near Interstate 85 at Exit 5.
• The casino now has 1,350 slots, 36 electronic table games and 22 traditional table games.
• The full resort is expected to open in spring 2027.

Kings Mountain Casino Project Adds Bigger Gaming Floor

Hundreds of visitors gathered along Kings Mountain Boulevard on Wednesday morning before the first phase of Catawba Two Kings Casino opened, according to The Charlotte Observer.

The new introductory gaming facility replaces the temporary casino that had operated on the same site since July 2021. It also gives the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority a larger setup while construction continues on the permanent resort.

The first phase includes 1,350 slot machines, 36 electronic table games and 22 live table games. Guests also have access to a 68-seat restaurant, an 18-seat bar, sports betting kiosks and a player rewards desk. The upgrade adds 250 slots and eight table games compared with the original temporary venue.

Parking also improved on opening day, with two levels inside the complex available to guests.

Trent Troxel, Vice President of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, said the full resort remains on track for spring 2027. Once complete, the project will cover about 2 million square feet and include a 24-story hotel with 385 rooms.

The final version of Catawba Two Kings Casino is planned to include 4,300 slot machines, 100 table games, 11 restaurants, 11 bars, a players lounge, 2,700 underground parking spaces and 800 ground-level spaces. Dining plans include a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace, café and grab-and-go outlet.

Construction on the permanent resort began after a June 2024 groundbreaking. Crews placed the final structural beam on top of the casino in October 2025 during a topping-off ceremony.

Tribal officials said the project has already created hundreds of construction jobs. When complete, the resort is expected to employ about 2,200 local residents and Catawba Nation members, adding new work opportunities in a region long affected by the decline of textile jobs.