Station Casinos closing in on North Fork October opening but courts could still stop gambling
Station Casinos and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians plan a $725m Madera County casino opening on October 28, but a federal judge could still block gambling as a rival tribe challenges a management contract.
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and Station Casinos aim to open a $725m casino in Madera County, California, on October 28, though a federal judge could still bar gambling there. The planned 100,000-square-foot casino would have more than 2,000 slot and video poker machines and 40 table games. The 264,000-square-foot project is expected to create over 1,500 jobs.
US District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff is considering objections from the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, owner of Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. Picayune claims the National Indian Gaming Commission unlawfully approved North Fork’s 2024 management contract with Station Casinos and seeks to annul it. The June 5 case names the commission chair; defendants include North Fork, Red Rock Resorts, Station Casinos and SC Madera Management.
Picayune contends off-reservation gaming on land bought after 1988 requires a two-part determination approved by federal and state authorities, and says North Fork is bound by a final judgment. A ruling is expected any day. Planning dates to 2003, but construction began in 2024 after years of delays.
