The Lumbee Tribal Council voted Thursday night (April 16) to move a constitutional amendment forward that would allow gaming on Lumbee tribal land, setting up a future vote for tribal members after hours of testimony and debate.
Council leaders said the proposal is meant to put the final decision in the hands of Lumbee citizens and could open a path to long-term economic growth. Critics said the language could shift too much authority to tribal leadership, reduce direct voter control and expose the tribe to outside federal influence.
After a late roll-call vote, council members announced they had cleared the required two-thirds threshold. “We have met the two-thirds quorum. At this time, the amendments passed,” the speaker declared to applause.
The measure now goes to the Lumbee membership for a referendum. Council officials said “a yes vote is for the authorize the tribe into gaming,” while a no vote would leave the constitution unchanged.
Lumbee gaming supporters and critics make their case
Backers told the council that gaming revenue could provide dependable funding for housing, health care, education and other tribal priorities.
Andrew Jacobs of District 11 called gaming the strongest available option for future prosperity.
“No other opportunity will provide consistent unrestricted revenue to service our people,” Jacobs said. “I see no other mechanism to ensure prosperity for future generations other than implementing gaming and judiciously allocating the revenue it generates.”
Darren Dees, a retired veteran from District 5, said the issue reaches beyond casinos.
“It’s not about gaming,” Dees said. “It’s about the opportunity, the sovereignty and the future of our people.”
He added that many tribes have used gaming “to fund education, healthcare, strengthen infrastructure and preserve the culture.”
Chairman John Lowery strongly backed the proposal and said tribal needs continue to grow.
“The people demand our services. The people demand our programs. The people demand that we do more every day,” Lowery said. “The days of a $20 million budget and the days of a $40 million budget can be behind us.”
He urged members to think bigger, asking, “Imagine what you can do with a $540 million budget.”
Lowery also said gaming proceeds could support senior centers, youth services, addiction treatment and new housing. Previous reporting has noted possible casino plans in North Carolina if the tribe secures the legal and regulatory approvals needed to proceed.
Opponents said they were not all against gaming itself, but objected to the structure of the amendment.
“As it’s written, it would give the power over appointments to gaming boards to the chairperson,” one speaker said, adding that those appointments would shape “all aspects of our gaming compact and revenue allocation plans.”
Frank Cooper from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, warned, “This should not be approved without careful consideration of how that will allow the United States Department of Interior to approve or disapprove our Constitution.”
Public Schools of Robeson County representative Bosco Locklear said, “Sovereignty is not just about the council, it’s about the whole tribe.”
Lumbee Tribal Council member Anita Blanks asked, “How in the world are we supposed to decide whether we agree?” She added, “Can we not have meaningful input into these documents … if we can’t even see them?”
Before the vote, the speaker defended the process, saying, “Instead, we’d like to give the membership the opportunity to make that decision.”
If voters approve the measure, leaders said the tribe would begin land-into-trust work and coordinate with the National Indian Gaming Commission under federal law.
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