Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement
Rival tribes spent $18 million last year in hopes of preventing the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians from opening an off-reservation casino in California, The Los Angeles Times reports. The bulk of the money -- $15.7 million -- was spent by the Table Mountain Rancheria and a company that has invested in the now-shuttered casino owned by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. The two tribes fear competition from the North Fork project. Another $2.3 million came from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. The tribe is based in southern California, hundreds of miles from the North Fork site. Voters statewide rejected Proposition 48 by a large margin. The referendum overturned the law that ratified the North Fork Rancheria's Class III gaming compact. The agreement, however, has already been approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The site is also already in trust and the tribe still plans on engaging in some form of gaming there. Get the Story:
Opponents of off-reservation casino measure far outspent supporters (The Los Angeles Times 2/3) Federal Register Notices:
Indian Gaming (October 22, 2013)
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012) Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria
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decision favoring North Fork Rancheria casino (01/16) Editorial: Don't let North Fork Rancheria proceed with casino plan (01/05)
Column: Wealthy tribes spend big to limit competition to casinos (12/09)
North Fork Rancheria won't give up casino plans despite vote (11/06)
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