Wilton Rancheria clears yet another hurdle in quest to open casino in California

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

An aerial view of Elk Grove, California, shows the area where the Wilton Rancheria plans to build a gaming facility. The existing structures are a part of an outlet mall where construction is expected to resume along with the casino. Image: Google Earth

The Wilton Rancheria is one step closer to opening a casino in northern California.

The tribe's Class III gaming compact has been completely approved at the state level. The only hurdle left is for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review and potentially approve the agreement.

The tribe otherwise has secured all approvals for the project. The 36-acre casino site was placed in trust by the BIA earlier this year, although opponents are hoping to have the decision set aside through a lawsuit in federal court.

The progress marks a major turnaround for the tribe, whose federal status was terminated by Congress in the 1950s. An agreement reached in 2009, during the Obama administration, restored the tribe to federal recognition.

Read More on the Story:
Wilton Rancheria casino project wins approval from Gov. Jerry Brown (The Sacramento Bee October 3, 2017)
Elk Grove casino's tribal compact gets final approval from California (The Sacramento Business Journal October 3, 2017)
Sacramento-area tribe to build large casino resort in Elk Grove (SFGate October 3, 2017)
Gov. Brown gives OK to build $400M Elk Grove casino (KCRA October 4, 2017)
Wilton Rancheria casino gets the greenlight (Gambling Insider October 4, 2017)
Elk Grove Casino Opponents File Motion For Summary Judgment in Federal Case (The Elk Grove News October 4, 2017) $P Federal Register Notices:
Final Environmental Impact Statement and a Revised Draft Conformity Determination for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 14, 2016)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 29, 2015)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wilton Rancheria Fee-to-Trust and Casino Project, Sacramento County, California (December 4, 2013)