Legal Setback for North Fork Casino
A Fresno appeals court has delivered a significant legal blow to the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians' plans for a major casino development in Madera County. On Tuesday, the court ruled that the approvals previously granted for constructing the North Fork casino are no longer valid.
Tribal Dispute Over Casino Project
The legal challenge was brought by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, which operates its own casino resort in Coarsegold. The Chukchansi tribe argued that North Fork's off-reservation project was invalid from the beginning, claiming that a 2014 voter proposition rejecting the casino should override earlier state approvals.
The appellate court agreed with this position. "The judgment is affirmed," wrote the three justices in their decision.
Ambitious Development Plans
The proposed casino complex was designed to include 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games, and a 200-room hotel facility. Additional amenities would have featured restaurants, a food court, and meeting spaces. The tribe had anticipated hiring more than 1,000 employees starting in early 2026.
Despite the recent court ruling, construction activity appeared to continue at the site on Friday, with workers visible near the roof and numerous trucks present.
Project History and Tribal Response
In a statement to Action News, North Fork representatives noted: "The state appeals court ruled on a narrow question of state law and expressly did not consider what effect, if any, the 2014 voter referendum had on the 2012 and 2016 federal approvals of the North Fork's project as a matter of federal law. Picayune Rancheria previously challenged each of those approvals in the federal courts and lost conclusively, providing North Fork the right to proceed with its project. North Fork will continue to comply with all applicable law, including the federal laws that govern Indian gaming, as it proceeds with construction of its project to benefit the regional economy and the lives of its more than 3000 tribal citizens."
The development project traces its origins back two decades, beginning with North Fork's initial approval request in 2005.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Legal battles surrounding this project have unfolded in courtrooms from California to Washington over many years and may continue further. North Fork retains the option to request that the California Supreme Court review the case.
