Local Casinos In Cherokee, North Carolina

Q: Where are casinos located in North Carolina?

Most casinos in North Carolina are located in the western part of the state near the Smoky Mountains or near the South Carolina border. The main locations are Cherokee, Murphy, and Kings Mountain.

Q: What is the largest casino in North Carolina?

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is the largest casino in North Carolina. The property features a massive gaming floor with thousands of slot machines, table games, a poker room, and multiple hotel towers.

Q: Are there poker rooms at local casinos?

Yes, some casinos have poker rooms. The largest is the World Series of Poker room at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, which hosts tournaments and cash games.

Q: Can you bet on sports at local casinos?

Yes, retail sportsbooks are available at tribal casinos in North Carolina. Players can place bets on professional and college sports at designated sportsbook areas.

Q: Are there online casinos in North Carolina?

State-regulated online casinos are not currently legal in North Carolina. However, many residents access offshore online casino sites that offer slots, table games, and live dealer options.

NC Flag icon Cherokee, North Carolina, is one of the state’s main casino destinations, led by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The property offers a large selection of slots and table games, Caesars Rewards, hotel accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, and other resort amenities, making it suitable for both day trips and longer stays.

Players looking beyond Cherokee for local casinos in NC also have a few nearby options. Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy is about 59 miles away, while Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain is considerably farther east.

This guide covers the main Cherokee casino, nearby alternatives, minimum gambling ages, bus and shuttle options, future casino development, and the availability of offshore online casinos for North Carolina players.

Table of Contents

Cherokee Casinos

Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort – A Caesars Rewards Destination

Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort is the largest casino destination in Cherokee, North Carolina, and one of the most complete gambling resorts in the state. The property is operated in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Caesars Entertainment and is regulated by the Cherokee Tribal Gaming Commission. The Commission currently lists the resort at around 4,000 slot machines and 150 table games, giving visitors a much broader gaming selection than they will find at smaller tribal gaming properties.

The casino floor covers most major forms of casino gambling, including slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, and other table games. Players can also use Caesars Rewards, allowing eligible play to earn Reward Credits and Tier Credits that can provide benefits across participating Caesars properties. This makes Harrah's Cherokee particularly attractive to players who already visit Caesars casinos elsewhere in the US.

Harrah's Cherokee is much more than a casino. The property has 1,800 hotel rooms across four hotel towers, along with two swimming pools. Guests also have access to the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, which includes a 16-lane bowling alley, arcade, and PC and console gaming, while the nearby Sequoyah National Golf Club provides an 18-hole, par-72 golf course. The property's location near the Great Smoky Mountains also makes it convenient for visitors who want to combine gambling with a longer trip to Western North Carolina.

Dining is another major strength. Rather than relying on a single buffet or casino café, Harrah's Cherokee offers a mixture of sit-down restaurants, celebrity-chef concepts, bars, and quicker dining options. Guests can therefore stay on the property for several days without being limited to the same type of meal each time. The resort also hosts live music, comedy, and other ticketed entertainment throughout the year.

The resort is especially well suited to an overnight or weekend casino trip. Between the large gaming floor, hotel, pools, bowling, arcade, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and nearby golf, there is considerably more to do than play slots for a few hours. Its location at 777 Casino Drive in Cherokee also puts visitors close to other Cherokee attractions and the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For casino-focused travelers visiting Western North Carolina, Harrah's Cherokee is the clear full-resort option. The gaming selection is extensive, Caesars Rewards adds value for regular Caesars customers, and the range of non-gambling amenities makes the property suitable for couples, groups, and visitors planning a multi-night stay rather than a quick casino stop.

Casinos Near Cherokee, North Carolina

There are not many land-based casinos immediately surrounding Cherokee. Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort is the main local option, while the next closest full casino is its sister property in Murphy. Players willing to drive farther can also reach Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.

Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel – About 59 Miles

Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is the closest major casino to Cherokee, other than Harrah's Cherokee itself. The property is located in Murphy, roughly 59 miles from Cherokee, with the drive generally taking around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Valley River has a 75,000-square-foot casino floor with slots and live table games, along with a Caesars Sportsbook. The property also participates in Caesars Rewards, making it particularly convenient for players who already use the loyalty program at Harrah's Cherokee.

The resort has a 300-room River Tower, restaurants, an indoor pool, a spa, a bowling alley, and an arcade. It is smaller than Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort but still works well as an overnight casino destination rather than simply a gaming hall.

Driving distance from Cherokee: Approximately 59 miles
Estimated drive: Around 1 hour 15 minutes
Location: Murphy, North Carolina

Catawba Two Kings Casino

Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain is another option for players willing to travel farther across North Carolina. Kings Mountain is approximately 130–140 miles by car from Cherokee, with a typical journey taking roughly 2½ hours, depending on traffic and the route taken.

The Catawba Nation opened the introductory phase of its permanent casino development in 2026. That portion of the property features 1,350 slot machines, 22 live table games, 36 electronic table games, sports betting kiosks, a restaurant, and a bar.

Two Kings is still being developed into a much larger resort. The completed project is planned to include around 4,300 slots, 100 live table games, a 385-room hotel, 11 restaurants, and 11 bars, making it a considerably more destination-oriented property once construction is finished.

Driving distance from Cherokee: Approximately 130–140 miles
Estimated drive: Around 2½ hours
Location: Kings Mountain, North Carolina

For most visitors staying in Cherokee, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River is the only realistic nearby alternative for a short casino road trip. Catawba Two Kings requires a substantially longer drive and makes more sense as a separate destination than a quick side trip.

What Is the Minimum Age for Casino Gambling in North Carolina?

State gambling laws have set the minimum age for casino gambling in North Carolina at 21. Players must be at least 21 to gamble at tribal casinos such as Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel.

The same 21+ rule applies to sports wagering at Harrah’s Cherokee. Caesars’ house rules state that anyone under 21 is prohibited from placing wagers or collecting winnings.

Other forms of gambling have different age limits. The North Carolina Education Lottery is available to players aged 18 and older, so the minimum age for the lottery is lower than the casino gambling age.

Tribal Casinos - 21
Casino Slots & Table Games - 21
Retail Sports Betting - 21
North Carolina Lottery - 18

Visitors under 21 can still access certain non-gambling areas of a casino resort, but they cannot participate in casino gaming or sports wagering.

Are There Any Plans for Future Cherokee Casinos?

At the moment, there are no publicly announced plans for a third Harrah’s Cherokee casino in North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians currently owns two major casino properties in the state: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel near Murphy. Caesars’ current Cherokee market materials continue to present these two properties as the tribe’s North Carolina casino portfolio.

Recent investment has focused more on expanding and upgrading the existing properties than opening another Cherokee casino. Harrah’s Cherokee has undergone major hotel, convention, dining, entertainment, and gaming improvements over the years, while Valley River has also expanded its casino floor, hotel capacity, poker, sportsbook, dining, spa, bowling, and entertainment options.

That does not mean another Eastern Band casino could never be developed. The tribe has previously described casino expansion and diversification as part of its broader economic strategy, and gaming remains a major part of its business. However, as of August 2026, there is no confirmed third Cherokee casino project in North Carolina with an announced site, opening date, or construction schedule.

For now, visitors looking for Cherokee-owned casino gambling in western North Carolina should expect Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River to remain the two main destinations.

Are There Bus Rides to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort?

Yes. Several independent tour and transportation companies operate motorcoach trips to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, making it possible to visit without driving. Harrah's Cherokee confirms that it accepts organized tour groups, although most casino bus services are operated by third-party travel companies rather than Caesars itself.

Bus trips are available from parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and surrounding states. Depending on the operator, trips may be single-day excursions or overnight packages. Current examples include scheduled motorcoaches from Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Statesville, while Atlanta-area companies also operate trips directly to Cherokee.

Casino Buses From Atlanta

Casino Buses From North Carolina

Shuttles From Asheville

Visitors arriving in Asheville also have private shuttle options. V & S Shuttles specializes in transportation between the Asheville area, including the airport, and Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort. This can be a useful alternative for visitors flying into Western North Carolina who do not want to rent a car.

Harrah's Cherokee does not operate a regular public airport shuttle from Asheville Regional Airport. Caesars identifies Asheville Regional Airport as the nearest major airport, approximately 80 minutes from the resort, so travelers should arrange transportation in advance.

Bus schedules, pickup locations, fares, casino stay times, and included benefits can change throughout the year. Travelers should therefore book directly with the transportation company and confirm the current schedule before traveling. Visitors should also note that Harrah's Cherokee stopped offering its previous incentive vouchers to motorcoach groups in July 2025, so older casino-bus advertisements that mention guaranteed casino credits may no longer be accurate.

2026 Online Casinos for Cherokee Players

There are no North Carolina-licensed online casinos in Cherokee or elsewhere in the state. North Carolina currently licenses online sports betting operators, but its list of approved interactive wagering operators does not include real-money online casino platforms offering slots, blackjack, roulette, or other casino games.

Players in Cherokee may still find offshore online casinos that accept North Carolina customers. These sites operate outside the state's regulated gaming system. They can provide access to online slots, table games, live dealer games, and video poker that are not currently available through a North Carolina-regulated casino website.

For players who understand that distinction, established offshore casinos can offer some practical advantages. They often provide larger game libraries, cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, mobile-compatible casino games, and bonuses that are not available through North Carolina's regulated sports betting market. Crypto-friendly sites can also provide faster withdrawal options than traditional banking methods in some cases.

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