North Fork Rancheria wins federal approval to offer Class III games

Monday, August 1, 2016

The North Fork Rancheria maintains an office in North Fork, California. Photo from Facebook

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The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians has won federal approval to offer Class III games on its trust land in California.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved Class III gaming procedures for the tribe on Friday. The tribe hailed the decision as a major victory in its efforts to open an off-reservation casino in Madera County.

"This is a huge milestone for our tribe but we still have one Federal lawsuit that needs a final ruling issued to move forward," the tribe said in a statement on Facebook.

The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians and other opponents have filed lawsuits in the federal and state courts in hopes of stopping the new development. The Chukchansis have repeatedly said their Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino will suffer "significant financial harm" if another casino opens in the region.

Ironically, the Chukchansis would have recovered some of their losses had the tribe campaigned for the passage of Proposition 48 in November 2014. Through the ballot initiative, voters invalidated -- at least at the state level -- a version of the North Fork Rancheria's Class III gaming compact that would have compensated the Chukchansis.

The new Class III gaming compact that was selected by a federal mediator does not include those same provisions.

In addition to lawsuits, the Chukchansis are asking Congress to pass H.R.5079, the California Compact Protection Act. The bill was written to prevent the BIA from approving or otherwise allowing Class III gaming for the North Fork Rancheria.

In order for the bill to have an effect, the North Fork Rancheria's trust lands must be treated as "Indian lands" as that term is defined by Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. But in a lawsuit filed in federal court, the Chukchansis argue the exact opposite -- that the North Fork Rancheria does not have valid "Indian lands."

H.R.5079 was written carefully in order to protect the Chukchansis when they return to the negotiating table for their Class III gaming compact. The bill has not been granted a hearing since its introduction in April.

The BIA placed about 305 acres in trust for the North Fork Rancheria in December 2012.

Get the Story:
North Fork tribe gets federal government approval for casino gaming project (The Fresno Bee 7/30) $P Tribal Leader Opinions on H.R.5079, the California Compact Protection Act:
Maryann McGovran: Don't be fooled by efforts of 'wealthy' tribes (5/13)
Claudia Gonzales: Off-reservation gaming fuels attacks on tribes (5/13)

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

Federal Register Notices:
Indian Gaming (October 22, 2013)
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012)