The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue have finalized an agreement that will allow new table games with live card dealers at the tribe’s Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, and will give school districts a portion of the profits from the new games. Currently the casino only offers electronic video games.

The finalized deal was forwarded to lawmakers for their review. Republican legislative leaders want more time to look at the compact. House Speaker Thom Tillis wrote to Perdue while negotiations were going on to tell her lawmakers would be willing to reconvene in Raleigh to consider changes to gambling laws that would be required to implement the compact.

The agreement also must be sent to the U.S. Department of the Interior for approval.

Opened in 1997, the casino currently employs 1,760 people. The new games will add 400 new jobs. Brooks Robinson recently was named general manager and will continue to oversee the casino’s $633 million expansion begun by Darold Londo, who has taken a position in Caesars corporate offices. Robinson came to Cherokee from Harrah’s Louisiana Downs casino, where he was vice president of operations.

The agreement also would:

• require a revenue-sharing agreement between the state and the tribe that would give the state up to 8 percent in gross revenues from live table games if the Eastern Band builds any future casinos;

• set minimum and maximum levels on wagering amounts, based on standard industry parameters (currently there are no limits on bets on the casino’s electronic games); and

• require the tribe to notify a county manager if it will build a gambling facility on tribal lands in the county; however, notification will not impinge on the rights of the tribe as a sovereign nation.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.