- Details
- By Chez Oxendine
- Gaming
A federal judge has ordered the reversal of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s approval of a land-into-trust application for the Koi Nation of Northern California, halting plans for a $600 million casino-resort near Windsor.
In a Sept. 22 order, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin adopted a final judgment proposed by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which vacates the trust acquisition and blocks the project. The ruling follows a Sept. 2 decision in which Lin found Interior violated federal law in approving the Koi Nation’s application to take the $12 million, 68-acre parcel into trust in January 2025.
“This final judgment secures long-overdue justice for our tribe and reaffirms our sovereign rights,” Greg Sarris, Graton Rancheria tribal chairman, said in a statement to Tribal Business News. “We look forward to working with the Interior Department to ensure a smooth and timely implementation of the court’s order.”
The decision represents a significant setback for the Koi Nation, which has described the Windsor site as its “restored homeland” and the casino project as its best opportunity for economic self-sufficiency. The parcel was approved for casino use because of this classification as a "restored homeland." Otherwise, it would not have been eligible for gaming development.
Following the January approval of the parcel, Graton Rancheria filed suit. The tribe sought full reversal of the land-into-trust decision, citing inadequate consultation, improper delegation of authority and insufficient evidence of the Koi Nation’s historical ties to the Windsor parcel.
The Koi Nation and federal defendants urged the court to leave the land in trust while the case proceeded on an appeal filed Sept. 11. They argued that vacating the decision was unnecessary because the Koi had pledged not to begin development during litigation. Federal attorneys also maintained that Interior’s decision was “thorough, meticulous, and lawful,” according to the court record.
Lin sided with Graton, finding the tribe had met its burden for injunctive relief and that the balance of equities favored reversal.
The Windsor project has faced opposition from local governments and state officials since its announcement in 2021. Graton operates the Graton Resort & Casino roughly 11 miles south of the Windsor site. The tribe has argued that a competing facility would undercut revenues that fund government services, health care and education for its citizens.
Without trust status, the Windsor parcel cannot host gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Koi Nation is counting on that appeal to preserve the Shiloh Casino and Resort project, per a statement to Tribal Business News.
“The Koi Nation has fought for generations for a land base upon which to secure a future for the Koi people. Yesterday's order removing our restored homeland from trust status is deeply disappointing, though our resolve is unwavering,” the tribe said. “In the end, we are confident that justice will prevail through our appeal.”
