Indian Gaming

The Obama administration saw a second victory in litigation involving off-reservation gaming in California.

Judge John A. Mendez refused to stop the Bureau of Indian Affairs from placing a casino site in trust for the Enterprise Rancheria. He said opponents failed to show how they will be harmed by the acquisition.

The Enterprise Rancheria land is set to go into trust tomorrow. The BIA also plans place a casino site for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians in trust tomorrow.

Historically, the BIA has imposed a "self-stay" on land-into-trust acquisitions until litigation is resolved. But as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Salazar v. Patchak, the Obama administration has rescinded that policy.

In Patchak, the Supreme Court ruled that opponents can sue the BIA even after the land is placed in trust. Essentially, there is no longer any reason to "self-stay" land-into-trust acquisitions.

Get the Story:
Indian casinos in Madera, Yuba counties get tentative go-ahead (The Fresno Bee 1/31)
Restraining order rejected against Oroville tribe's bid for casino (The Marysville Appeal Democrat 1/31)

District Court Decision:
Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians v. Salazar (January 31, 2013)
Stand Up For California v. DOI (January 29, 2013)

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

Related Stories:
BIA plans to place North Fork casino site into trust on Friday (1/30)