California | Casino Stalker | Compacts

Rival tribe donates another $5.4M to block North Fork casino

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement

The Table Mountain Rancheria has donated another $5.4 million to prevent the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians from opening an off-reservation casino in northern California.

The donation brings the tribe's total to more than $8 million, The Fresno Bee reported. The tribe is now the largest single backer of the campaign against Proposition 48.

The North Fork Rancheria's gaming site is about 31 miles from the Table Mountain Casino. Both facilities would presumably compete for the same customer base.

A "yes" vote on Proposition 48 ratifies the North Fork Rancheria's Class III gaming compact. It also ratifies a compact for the Wiyot Tribe, whose leaders agreed to forgo a casino in exchange for a cut of revenues from the North Fork casino.

A "no" vote, on the other hand, blocks the compact. A description of Proposition 48, from the California Secretary of State, follows:

Proposition 48 - Referendum to Overturn Indian Gaming Compacts
If signed by the required number of registered voters and timely filed with the Secretary of State, this petition will place on the statewide ballot a challenge to a state law previously approved by the Legislature and the Governor. The law must then be approved by a majority of voters at the next statewide election to go into effect. The law ratifies two gaming compacts (with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, and the Wiyot Tribe); and it exempts execution of the compacts, certain projects, and intergovernmental agreements from the California Environmental Quality Act. (13-0007)

Get the Story:
California tribe fighting casino makes $5.4 million campaign donation (The Fresno Bee 10/9)
Proposition 48: A Casino Precedent — or Not? (KQED 10/9)

An Opinion:
Editorial: Keep a lid on Indian casinos (The San Jose Mercury News 10/9)

California Court of Appeal Decision:
Picayune Rancheria v. Brown (September 24, 2014)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria