I was not sure where to post this but there is little to no talk about North Carolina on 2+2.

Over the past few days there has been talk of a possible casino project just west of Charlotte near Kings Mountain. The project could include restaurants, hotels, and a casino. The project would be just off of I-85.

One of the best stories I have read about it was from the Shelby Star: http://www.shelbystar.com/news/local...7-a-m-1.187781

This story combined many of the other stories into one.

I just wanted to see what people thought about the idea, as well as get some kind of poker discussion going in North Carolina. The only real thread about NC is the Harrah's Cherokee thread, but it is limited.

I believe a new casino in NC ran by a different tribe than the Cherokee would be good for the players because of the competition. I believe Harrah's Cherokee is a really nice place, and has a lot going for it, but just imagine the changes if they had a little bit of competition. I actually think it would be a lot of competition because I am sure a lot of people would rather make the short drive to Charlotte over the long drive to Cherokee, especially with this project being talked about along I-85. It would be much more accessible than Cherokee and probably get a lot of business.

Like I mentioned above, I just want to get some discussion going about the issue and see what people think. Personally, I think it is a good idea. It would bring more revenue to the state and that's another few thousand jobs for an area that has a fairly high unemployment rate.

Obviously there is much more to take into consideration, but it seems like a win-win situation so far.

From what the news stories said, McCrory was definitely not opposed to the idea.. so maybe one day.

It would be nice but it seems like the Cherokee want to keep a monopoly on the casinos. As far as I have seen so far, there was talk of a casino in Murphy (not sure if that was ever finalized) and now the one of I-85. Murphy would be just as far for you guys, if not further, but the I-85 project would be a little closer.

It's hard to tell how it will go though, since it is an out of state tribe. I am sure the Cherokee will be strongly against the Catawba Indians being able to build a casino in NC.

Maybe some new information will come out soon. I wanted to get this conversation started so maybe people would speak out for being in favor and maybe even contact reps.

Where do people around your area usually go? Do they suck it up and make the long trip to Cherokee or go somewhere else?

A casino event remotely close to Charlotte would be huge and I'd suspect put a sizable dent into Cherokee. Would probably pull a lot more traffic from the PTI area, much less Charlotte. Will be interesting to see what develops.

As noted above, Charlotte has a pretty big poker community, so I doubt there'd be any issue filling a poker room. Also agree the Cherokee tribe would fight tooth & nail to prevent something else from opening in NC.

I definitely don't think there would be a problem filling a poker room. I doubt there would be a problem filling any games.

It would be really nice to have somewhere really close to go play poker.

I checked the times from different areas to the approximate area of the where the new casino would be compared to Harrah's Cherokee:

Atlanta - 3 hours 25 minutes/3 hours
Charlotte - 35 minutes/3 hours 15 minutes
Raleigh - 3 hours/5 hours
Charleston - 3 hours 45 minutes/5 hours
Knoxville - 3 hours 30 minutes/2 hours 15 minutes

(The first time is to I-85 and the second is to Cherokee)

Yea if we had a casino in the Charlotte area the poker room would definitely be jam packed. There are plenty of young people in the area as well as professionals and retirees that would pack up the casino and the poker room, and I would expect many from Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Greenvile SC, and other areas I'm probably forgetting within a few hours to regularly make trips to the casino, and that's not even taking into account the farther places like Atlanta and Tennessee coming over. I could easily envision the poker room being more popular than like a Hard Rock in Florida if it's run well.

Probably can't expect much out of this for awhile, but it would certainly be awesome to see a casino be built within a half and hour of where I live. Don't even need to stay at the hotel can just grind when I please.

Of course Cherokee would try their hardest to stop this, but I don't see what negotiating power they actually have in this matter. Sure that area would lose jobs, but the jobs lost there would be more than made up in the Charlotte area.

Hi Derk, im in SC.

A few random thoughts of my own after reading the thread.

Ive gotten to where i wont post in ch er okee thread anymore. Its read only for me except when the tournaments come.

Also, the drive up there for me is not just 3.5 hours, it's also a hard one on my car up those mountain roads.

I think your regional development officials would do better thinking smaller than bigger as far as a casino. Financing is too expensive now and you need an experienced developer.

Can you keep thus on the west side of Charlotte please. Be right up.

I heard a few days ago that they had broke ground on the rest of the project (mall/food/entertainment type place.) I have not heard anything else about the casino since the other day but hopefully it is still an option. The Catawba Indians from SC are the main force behind the casino project, so maybe they will keep pushing the issue.

You know how it goes though, it could take months or years before the governor decides anything and even then the rest of the state may disapprove. Then if it is approved, it could me more months/years before construction begins. It will be a long road but if everyone keeps pressing the issue and talking about it, it could help. Even a little bit of help is always good.

It would be awesome to have a casino that close by but I would be happy with just a poker room (probably never happen in NC.) I agree with your idea of smaller before bigger but honestly, with Charlotte being that close, small may not be big enough. I have heard many people say that they like the idea of a casino but a 3-4 hour drive to Cherokee is too long.

Yea I honestly doubt there would be any issue with sustaining business in the Charlotte area if a big casino were built. I doubt NC, SC, or GA are going to legalize gambling outside of tribal areas anytime soon. I think they'll have little trouble getting financing for it.

Also it seems like Derk based on the article you mentioned, all they need is McCrory's approval for it and not lawmakers, so it has an even better chance if they just need to convince 1 person.

There were some more articles that came out on Tuesday, August 27th. Most of them are discussing a phase one study done by the Catawba Indians, which says that if the project is approved it could be up and running in 2015.

Here is another article from the Shelby Star. Again, it has some really good information: http://www.shelbystar.com/news/local....193514?page=0

Also, I am very glad all of you are supportive of the project. Hopefully more people will get on board and the project will get up and running.

North Carolina has plenty of people that would be interested in a casino that (a) provided competition to Harrah's Cherokee and (b) gave a closer option, we just have to get them talking too..

Just found this link too: http://www.gastongazette.com/spotlig...-jobs-1.193736

Similar information but it seems to be getting some attention because there are several comments on it promoting the idea..

I would love to see another casino in that area, especially if it promoted good competition between them and Cherokee on the poker side of things. Maybe we will see a rake that isn't completely absurd.

"We don't need an out-of-state tribe coming into North Carolina and opening a casino," Apodaca recently told the Associated Press."


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HA

...................................

What is so funny?

I'm laughing otherwise I'd be crying right about now.

Out of all the bull**** reasons you (the state representative) can give for not wanting a casino in the area, THAT is the stupid reason you give as a representative for the state. What the flying ****.

I am definitely not a state representative. I want a casino in this area just as much as you do. What makes you think I am a representative?

Ugh, I'm trying to reference the state representative that made that quote not you.

Ok. I understand now. You said "you" so I figured you meant me. Hopefully, something will come of this but you can never know for sure with politics..

The plan is to have a temp casino in Murphy by summer '14 and then have the finished casino a year later.

Murphy is a done deal. Just the timeline is the question. Owned by the Cherokee tribe. 300 room hotel, slots and table games, no poker.

Catawba will be a tough fight. I'm sure Cherokee will dump a ton of money into the politicians pockets to keep this from happening. Charlotte area is supposedly 20% of their business. It would be a great area, right off 85, about 30 miles south of Charlotte. Depressed area in need of jobs. Articles I've read suggest two hotels, 750 rooms, open in 2015.

Some competition would be great for the customers.

Rumor is also more live tables in Cherokee. Dealers keeping their own tips starting Oct 1st. Dealers will have to re-audition and they will keep best 20-30. Also (don't believe this part myself) room will move back downstairs.

The current agreement has a clause granting the Cherokee tribe exclusivity to live table games west of Interstate 26. Of course that would not apply to Charlotte area.

I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Seriously though, that might have happened but I strongly doubt it would be perpetual. Find us an article!

Not looking good so far..

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...l#.UiqOHaa9LCQ

"Not looking good..."

I would say that is more like CRUSHED.

Its only in relation to a South Carolina tribe coming to North Carolina.

Thanks for the link Derk. Appreciated.

No problem Grenzen.

It is not completely bad that the house is against this, it's obviously not good, but according to previous articles McCrory could authorize the gambling compact without their approval. However, they sent their petition to the agency that would have to grant the Catawba tribe the right to acquire the land for a reservation that would ultimately be used for gambling.

I'm sure there will be more news to come of this soon, I just hope it is not all bad news for the people that actually want the casino. There are many advantages to this project but politicians will see it as a huge disadvantage if other politicians are already expressing views against it.

If anyone sees news about this, post the link in the forum. I look fairly often for more recent news, but I may miss something.

Thanks everyone for your opinions and input so far.

We are in the black hole of the poker world here. I need a whole weekend just to get there, play a little and return. South Carolina is an even bigger joke. Derk I swear we still have the SAME GUYS in Columbia that we had in 1865. It's either ghosts or kin or direct descendants, I dont know this state will never change .