Madera Casino Opening Delayed: Legal Battles Continue for North Fork Tribe

The casino received earlier federal approval 

Despite state court rulings against it and a 2014 referendum that rejected the Madera casino plan, the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California say the casino received earlier federal approval to move ahead that overrides state objections.

It’s unclear exactly how an unfavorable ruling from the federal court, which is expected any day, would impact the scheduled opening of the casino or any future operations.

Here are key takeaways from the legal drama 

Two tribes argued for hours in Fresno federal court on Friday, Oct. 9, and are now awaiting Judge Kirk E. Sherriff’s order on whether to issue a preliminary injunction against the North Fork Mono Casino and Resort or to dismiss a lawsuit trying to block it.

The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians filed its lawsuit in June, its third federal case in 14 years against the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, which owns the newly built casino off Highway 99. Chukchansi’s attorneys argue the North Fork casino lacks the required state concurrence because California voters rejected the tribe’s state gaming compact by 22 percentage points in a 2014 statewide referendum.

The California Supreme Court earlier this year declined to review a lower court’s ruling against the casino, leaving in place a December appellate decision that said the project is not authorized by the state. North Fork’s attorney Christopher Babbit told the court that the federal government determined the Highway 99 site satisfied the “two-part determination” at least two years before the voter referendum, saying “Enough is enough” on repeat challenges. 

The 264,000-square-foot casino promises more than 1,500 jobs and represents a $725 million project the North Fork tribe has planned since 2003, with the opening expected after breaking ground in 2024 following years of court delays.

Picayune indicated in court filings that its Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino could lose up to 50% of its gaming revenues if the North Fork casino operates as competition, which it says could cut education, healthcare and other tribal benefits. 

Station Casinos, the Las Vegas-based operator set to run the North Fork casino, described Picayune’s complaint as an “eleventh-hour lawsuit recycling previously rejected arguments in a last-ditch effort” in a motion to dismiss.