The $750 million North Fork Mono Casino & Resort in Madera County, California, opened its doors a day early, welcoming its first customers on October 27. The launch comes, however, as a neighboring tribal gaming operator has an unresolved federal lawsuit seeking to stop the property from offering casino games.
North Fork Mono Casino Opens After Decades of Delays
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians owns the casino, and it is operated by Station Casinos, a subsidiary of Red Rock Resorts. Hundreds of people, including tribal members who were among the first visitors to enter the property, attended the opening celebrations.
The development is a major milestone for the North Fork tribe after decades of legal and regulatory obstacles. The casino is an important source of income for tribal leaders, who say it can reduce dependence on government assistance and promote long-term economic development.
The property has more than 2,400 slot machines and 40 table games and sits on about 300 acres on Highway 99. The high-limit gaming floor includes another 138 slots, 10 table games, a private bar, and a dedicated cashier.
There are also eight restaurants and four bars. Manzanita Steakhouse features farm-to-table fare and an extensive wine list with more than 250 labels. Another venue, Clubhouse 99, offers more than 56 big-screen televisions and more than 20 beers on tap.
The project has already hired more than 1,000 employees, while previous estimates projected its overall employment impact to be more than 1,500 jobs. Other plans for development include a hotel and a gas station.
Rival Tribe Challenges North Fork Casino’s Legal Right to Operate
The opening was a success, but the casino’s future remains uncertain as a federal judge weighs a legal challenge from the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. The tribe operates the nearby Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino and wants the court to issue a temporary restraining order prohibiting gambling at the new property.
Both sides made arguments before US District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on October 9, but he has yet to rule. Picayune is also seeking claims against Station Casinos and the National Indian Gaming Commission.
The question is whether North Fork still has the state approvals it needs to operate a casino on land taken into federal trust. Former California Gov. Jerry Brown backed a 2012 federal government decision that the site was eligible for gaming.
However, California voters rejected legislation that would have approved the tribe’s gaming compact in 2014. A state appellate court later ruled that the referendum also voided Brown’s prior concurrence. The California Supreme Court refused to review that ruling in April 2026.
Picayune argues the decision undermines the legal basis for gambling at the Madera site. North Fork says its federal gaming approvals remain in place and has moved to dismiss the latest complaint.
Picayune’s September lawsuit was its third federal attempt in roughly 14 years to block the project. The tribe’s previous attempts failed, but it says the recent state court ruling strengthens its hand.