North Fork Rancheria off-reservation casino deal up for hearing

Friday, April 19, 2013  

The California Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization will hold a hearing next Wednesday, April 24, on a Class III gaming compact for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.

The tribe received federal and state approval to open an off-reservation casino. The 350-acre gaming site has been placed in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

All that's left is for state lawmakers to ratify the compact. Then it can be sent to the BIA for final review.

As part of the compact, the North Fork Rancheria will share revenues with the state. The Wiyot Tribe will receive up to 3.5 percent of those revenues under a separate compact in which the tribe agreed not to open a casino on its reservation.

Relevant Documents:
North Fork Rancheria Compact (August 2012)
Class III Gaming Compact Wiyot Tribe (March 2013)

Federal Register Notice:
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012)

Editorial: Lawmakers must reject off-reservation casino deals (4/18)