The Enterprise Rancheria of California cleared a significant hurdle in its quest for an off-reservation casino.

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) on Friday concurred with the Obama administration's decision on the casino. The tribe plans a facility with up to 2,000 slot machines on a 40-acre parcel about 36 miles from its headquarters, according to a fact sheet from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“The Enterprise Rancheria is very pleased with the Governor’s concurrence that displayed both courage and understanding. This is an important step in a nearly decade long process to bring some economic relief and social justice to both our people and community,” Chairwoman Glenda Nelson said in a press release.

The tribe still needs to win approval of its land-into-trust application before starting work on the casino. It's not clear when the BIA will make a final decision.

Under the two-part determination section of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, only three tribes have won state and federal approval for an off-reservation casino since 1988.

The last time a state governor approved an off-reservation casino under the two-part determination section was in 2007. But in that case, the Bush administration rejected a land-into-trust application for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, so the project never moved forward.

Get the Story:
Yuba County casino earns governor's OK (The Marysville/Yuba City Appeal-Democrat 9/1)
Jerry Brown gives green light to two off-reservation casinos (The Sacramento Bee 9/1)
2,000-slot-machine casino OK’d for Yuba County (KCRA-TV 8/31)
Gov. Brown Approves Compact For Indian Casino In Yuba County (CBS13 8/31)

Related Stories:
Sen. Feinstein again pushing to reject off-reservation casino (8/24)