The Catawba Indian Nation’s Two Kings Casino, which has seen a strong response to its temporary North Carolina facility with 500 real money slot machines, will double that amount by the end of the year.

Initial site work on the expansion of Two Kings began in September, according to a news release. The new gaming facilities, constructed using prefabricated modular structures, will be attached to the current facility.

”“With the overwhelming success of the Catawba Two Kings Casino’s pre-launch facility since opening, it makes sense to work as quickly as possible to provide additional gaming opportunities for our patrons across the Charlotte region,” Mike Ulizio, president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, said in the release.

Opened on July 1, the US casino is about 35 miles from Charlotte.

The slot machines are in single-story modular structures in Kings Mountain and the temporary facility currently has nearly 15,000 square feet of space for slots, offices and a snack area.

A $273 Million Project

The permanent Catawba Two Kings Casino will be a $273 million, 60,000-square-foot facility offering Class III gaming (slot machines and table games). The casino is expected to bring more than 2,500 jobs to North Carolina. The Catawbas previously announced they would open an “introductory” facility in the fall, having at least 1,300 slot machines.

The Catawba Indian Nation, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has tried to offer U.S. gambling other than bingo in South Carolina for years before it looked north to build a casino.

Ground was broken on the facility in Kings Mountain after the compact between the tribe and North Carolina was approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.

More Jobs to the Area

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony in July, Catawba Nation Chief Bill Harris pointed to what the casino means going forward for the tribe.

“For many of us, it represents a bright future – a future with more jobs and educational opportunities,” Harris said. “We are thankful for the relationships that have been created in each community, for our partnerships with Delaware North and SkyBoat Gaming, and for the invaluable leadership that came from local officials in making this project a reality.”

The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina has been fighting the Catawba casino. The Cherokees have retail sports betting at their two casinos in western North Carolina. They have been accepting wagers since just before March Madness.

It is unknown when or if the Catawbas will eventually offer sports betting at Two Kings.