Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioNorth Carolina’s Catawba Two Kings Casino has expanded its digital footprint with the launch of Catawba Two Kings Slots, a new free-to-play social casino platform developed in partnership with Ruby Seven Studios. The platform is now live, featuring over 100 slot titles, many of which replicate the games found on the casino floor.
According to the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, the social casino aims to deepen engagement with the casino’s Lucky North Rewards loyalty program.
Trent Troxel, vice president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, said Catawba Two Kings Slots “offers players the opportunity for hours of entertainment while staying engaged with the popular casino when they are off property.”
The platform is positioned solely for entertainment. Users cannot win real money, although optional in-app purchases are available to enhance the experience.
Ruby Seven Studios, the partner behind the platform, is a subsidiary of hospitality giant Delaware North. It has delivered branded social casino apps for a range of major land-based operators.
From Modular Beginnings to Full-Scale Resort
North Carolina and the Catawba Nation signed a gaming compact in 2021, authorizing casino operations at the Two Kings site. The tribe opened a temporary casino in July 2021. It features over 1,100 gaming machines, electronic table games, 14 live table games, and a retail sportsbook.
The temporary facility, situated approximately 35 miles west of Charlotte, is the closest casino to the region’s largest metropolitan area. Construction is underway on a permanent $1 billion casino resort adjacent to the current site.
The project’s introductory phase is scheduled to open in spring 2026, with a full resort debut targeted for 2027. Once completed, the resort will include roughly 4,300 slot machines, 100 table games, multiple dining outlets, and bars. It will also feature a 385-room hotel.
In July 2025, Two Kings strengthened its regional presence through a multiyear partnership with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. It includes in-stadium promotions at Bank of America Stadium and fan activations tied to the casino’s loyalty program.
Social Casinos Differ From Sweeps Casinos
Social casinos, such as Catawba Two Kings Slots, are free-to-play digital platforms. They typically offer slots, but without real-money wagering or cash prizes. Users play with virtual currency, which they earn through gameplay.
Social casino apps generate revenue through in-app purchases of additional chips or features.
Since they don’t allow players to win or withdraw real money, social casinos fall outside the scope of state gambling statutes.
The model differs from dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. The latter allows players to acquire promotional entries, which they can redeem for cash prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos have drawn increasing regulatory scrutiny across the U.S. Critics argue they blur the line between social gaming and real-money gambling.
The Catawba Nation Gaming Authority has designed its social casino as a brand extension and engagement tool, rather than a wagering product. It allows the casino to maintain a digital presence without triggering concerns under North Carolina’s gambling laws.
Many established casino operators and content providers operate social casino platforms. They include Aristocrat Leisure, Hard Rock, Rivers Casino, Light & Wonder, and numerous tribal operators.
