Cherokee Chief Hails New Casino Compact

RALEIGH, N.C., June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' principal chief Michell Hicks has called the new gaming legislation signed into law today by Gov. Bev Perdue "an important milestone" for the tribe and the state of North Carolina.

"The new compact will immediately create 400 new jobs and inject $30 million a year into an economy that has been hit hard in recent years," Hicks said, adding that the Eastern Band is "privileged and committed to help assure a more solid economic foundation in our region."

Speaking on behalf of the 15,000 registered members of the Eastern Band, Hicks said the agreement also "underlines the great spirit of cooperation that exists between the Eastern Band and the State of North Carolina. We now go forward together to continue to help not just the people of the western region, but school children in 100 counties in the state in the years ahead."

The addition of live dealers will attract new tourists, mostly from out of state. The compact is expected to generate as much as $90 million over the life of the compact that is planned to shore up local education budgets across North Carolina.

Chief Hicks also noted that the family vacation experience will be improved under the new compact. "Truly, we will now have a world-class tourist destination resort in Cherokee that will bring new life to our economy that can be sustained for years to come," he said.

SOURCE Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

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