$750m North Fork casino opens as lawsuit to stop it stays live
A rival tribe says the casino threatens revenue for its own services, while North Fork says it funds jobs & housing.
The hit
California’s $750m North Fork Mono Casino opened its doors on 27 October, a day early, despite a federal lawsuit still seeking to halt gambling there. The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians filed the suit in June, challenging a 2024 federal approval of the casino’s management deal with Station Casinos.
Why it matters
The casino is trading while a judge decides whether to shut its gambling down. Picayune has warned the new venue could substantially reduce the revenue it needs for tribal services, according to the source. For now, customers can play on while Picayune’s injunction bid & the defendants’ motions to dismiss remain undecided.
The record
| Casino opened | 27 October, a day ahead of schedule |
|---|---|
| Lawsuit filed | June, by Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians |
| State appeals court ruling | December 2025, found the 2014 referendum invalidated Gov. Brown’s concurrence |
| California Supreme Court | Declined to review that ruling in April |
| Injunction hearing | 9 October, before Judge Kirk E. Sherriff |
What happens next
No decision halting operations has been announced as Picayune’s bid for a preliminary injunction & the defendants’ motions to dismiss remain before Judge Sherriff.
Sources: $750M North Fork Mono Casino Opens Despite Unresolved Legal Challenge – Casino.org
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