Lumbee Tribe holds vote on potential constitutional change for gaming
ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina headed to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a constitutional amendment.
In December of 2025, the Lumbee Tribe was added to official list of federally recognized tribes.
Federal recognition gives the tribe the right to operate gaming on tribal lands and use the money earned from gaming for the benefit of tribal members in compliance with rules established by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
Lumbee Tribe officials said the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires the tribe to adopt strong checks and balances.
A website promoted by the tribe to educate members about the options explains a “yes” vote changes the Lumbee Constitution to allow the tribe to move forward with gaming operations.
A “no” vote prohibits the tribe from legally moving forward with gaming operations.
A day before the vote, the tribe posted on its Facebook page that in December 2025, members of the Lumbee Tribal Council entered into a Non-Disclosure Agreement at the request of Lumbee Holdings, Inc., regarding the purchase of property near Exit 10 along I-95.
The tribe said the NDA was lifted late last week.
Polling places opened at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 7:30 p.m.
