California | Casino Stalker

Rivals raise nearly $16M to block North Fork Rancheria's casino

Monday, October 20, 2014

Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement

Rival tribes have raised nearly $16 million to convince voters in California to reject an off-reservation casino for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.

Most of the money for the campaign against Proposition 48 comes from the Table Mountain Rancheria. According to The Sacramento Bee, the tribe has contributed $10.95 million.

The North Fork Rancheria's gaming site is about 31 miles from the Table Mountain Casino. Both facilities would presumably compete for the same customer base.

A "yes" vote on Proposition 48 ratifies the North Fork Rancheria's Class III gaming compact. It also ratifies a compact for the Wiyot Tribe, whose leaders agreed to forgo a casino in exchange for a cut of revenues from the North Fork casino.

A "no" vote, on the other hand, blocks the compact. A description of Proposition 48, from the California Secretary of State, follows:

Proposition 48 - Referendum to Overturn Indian Gaming Compacts
If signed by the required number of registered voters and timely filed with the Secretary of State, this petition will place on the statewide ballot a challenge to a state law previously approved by the Legislature and the Governor. The law must then be approved by a majority of voters at the next statewide election to go into effect. The law ratifies two gaming compacts (with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, and the Wiyot Tribe); and it exempts execution of the compacts, certain projects, and intergovernmental agreements from the California Environmental Quality Act. (13-0007)

Get the Story:
Prop. 48 revives California’s off-reservation casino debate (The Sacramento Bee 10/19)
Proposition 48 Opponents Say It Will Lead to State-Wide Gambling Expansion (California Election Center 10/20)

Also Today:
Casino Opponents May Add Letters to Record (Courthouse News Service 10/17)

Some Opinions:
Stephen Kullmann / Wiyot Tribe Natural Resources Director This election, vote yes on Proposition 48 (The Eureka Times-Standard 10/19)
Tom Elias: Propositions 45, 48: Two Obvious 'Yes' Votes (The Santa Monica Mirror 10/19)
Prop. 48: Look long and hard, then reject (The Californian 10/18)

California Court of Appeal Decision:
Picayune Rancheria v. Brown (September 24, 2014)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria