The House Judiciary committee is working on a bill to establish the S.C. Gaming Commission, which is tied to a Native American tribe’s SC casino plans in Santee, near Interstate 95. The SC casino is expected to boost the local economy significantly.
The bill is sponsored by Representatives Chris Murphy, Gary Brewer, Gil Gatch, Leon Stavrinakis, Spencer Wetmore, Todd Rutherford, Bill Herbkersman, Wes Newton, Seth Rose, Robby Robbins, Beth Bernstein, and Gilda Cobb-Hunter.
Wes Newton, Bill Herbkersman, Beth Bernstein, and Gilda Gobb-Hunter rank as some of the most influential members of the South Carolina House.
Wallace Cheves, the behind the scenes promoter and developer of the casino hotel, is a major Republican contributor who served as the Finance Committee co-chair for Lindsay Graham’s brief 2015 presidential campaign.
He resides in Greenville, SC and is an alumnus of Wofford College. In 2024, he assisted the Catawba Indians in commencing the building of a $700 million casino hotel in Kings Mountain, NC.
Cheves and the Catawba Native Americans later faced divisions that caused problems between them. However, Cheves is a big donor to US Senator Thom Tillis of NC who supported the Kings Mountain project and has been trying to help the Lumbee Indians get Native American recognition from the U.S. Department of the Interior. .
Senator Tillis urged Trump to mention federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe in his 2024 campaign. Recently, President Trump signed a memorandum instructing the Department of Interior to seek federal recognition.
In North Carolina, there are 55,000 Lumbee Indians. Historical records show that Lumbee residents also live in South Carolina; an estimate from 1960 suggested that around 31,380 Lumbee people resided in our state.
Once the Lumbee Native Americans become a Federally recognized tribe, the state governor must approve the process for establishing an Indian casino according to the law. SC state legislation is no longer required for the Lumbee to build a Casino anywhere they own land in South Carolina.
Furthermore, the potential for more SC casinos is creating excitement among residents who hope to see increased tourism and job opportunities.
SC has never had a governor who approved Native American casino hotels, which is why there are none in the state.
Due to the close ties among McMaster, President Trump, and Cheves, McMaster seems ready to approve the establishment of casinos owned by the Lumbee tribe in South Carolina.
This SC casino could set a precedent for future gaming establishments across the state, especially with the growing interest in gaming by the local tribe.
In addition, the establishment of the SC casino will provide various entertainment options for both locals and visitors.
With the SC casino’s potential development, communities in Santee and Myrtle Beach are hopeful for economic revitalization.
Once the casino in Orangeburg County, South Carolina gets approval, Wallace Cheves is set to be a partner along with the Lumbee tribe. The establishment will be situated at a deserted mall by Interstate 95 in Santee, South Carolina.
The proposed SC casino in Myrtle Beach aims to enhance the area’s reputation as a premier vacation destination.
Moreover, the introduction of the SC casino will likely lead to enhanced infrastructure, benefiting the entire region.
Wallace Cheves’ business, the Santee Development Corporation, has acquired the land of an empty outlet park along I-95 in Santee. Although it might take one or two years for all arrangements to be finalized, the casino seems to be on its way.
The prospect of a new SC casino also brings challenges, as established tribes are wary of the competition.
Exploring the Future of SC Casinos in Santee and Myrtle Beach
Multiple Myrtle Beach officials believe that it is worth exploring the possibility of including Horry County in the chance to acquire a casino resort. There is interest in situating it at the previous Myrtle Square Mall location on 24th Avenue North, where a $1 billion, four-star casino hotel, and additional facilities could be developed downtown.
Leaders say the casino would generate enough money locally to help build I-73 and help fund better schools in Horry County.
The bill currently has 13 co-sponsors all representing areas along I-95. Seven state house Democrats and 6 Republicans currently support the bill.
The Cherokee and Catawba Indian Nations are working against the Lumbee’s receiving authentic native American recognition from Governor McMaster, however.
These tribes are opposed to any competition that might diminish traffic to their already existing casinos.
Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com
