Koi Nation casino has become hot-button issue for California tribes

The Koi Nation has secured a pivotal approval for its proposed Windsor casino project in January, but this milestone has sparked a surge of legal challenges against it.

The last days of former President Joe Biden’s administration were anything but uneventful, particularly regarding tribal gaming.

Several pending tribal land-into-trust applications were swiftly approved, including off-reservation projects—an outcome that has historically faced significant hurdles. This shift in policy, led by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and outgoing Secretary Deb Haaland, marked a departure from previous practices.

Among these approvals, the Koi Nation of Northern California received the most contentious: a green light for a $600 million development project featuring a 400-room hotel and a casino encompassing over 500,000 square feet of gaming space and 2,750 slot machines. If realized, this initiative would rank as one of the largest tribal casinos in California and across the United States.

Initially proposed in 2021, the Koi project sought a “restored land” exception from the DOI, positing that its historical ties to the region justified the approval despite being outside its current reservation boundaries. Such cases are not uncommon among smaller tribes like the Koi, which may have been displaced over time.

Notably, the Koi Nation was officially recognized in 1916 under a different name and was initially granted land in Lake County. However, much of this land was rendered unusable, compelling the tribe to relocate to Sonoma County shortly thereafter. Over the subsequent decades, clerical oversights led to the tribe’s near-forgetfulness, until a DOI ruling in 2000 reinstated its status.

Ultimately, on January 13, Haaland and the DOI endorsed the trust application, triggering a wave of backlash, including opposition from the state itself.

Divided Among Tribes

The most vocal opposition has emerged from neighboring gaming tribes, particularly the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR), the operators of the prominent Graton Resort and Casino. As the largest casino in the Bay Area, Graton is situated in close proximity to the Koi project. In 2023, FIGR embarked on a $1 billion expansion.

FIGR initiated its legal challenges against Haaland and the DOI in November prior to the project’s approval, subsequently filing again in February. They contend that the Koi site infringes upon their ancestral lands and undermines the rigorous requirements for tribal land-into-trust applications.

“Their claims of historical connection are flawed and, if accepted by the Department of the Interior (DOI), would set a dangerous precedent for all of California’s Indigenous peoples—and, indeed, for all Indian Nations,” stated FIGR Chairman Greg Sarris in an official release last July. “This could pave the way for casinos to proliferate uncontrollably and severely compromise our sovereignty as federally recognized tribes.”

We are excited about these renderings of the Shiloh Resort & Casino, the Koi Nation’s approved project in unincorporated Sonoma County.

For more information on how the Koi Nation is exercising its sovereign rights, please visit: Link

— Koi Nation Shiloh Resort & Casino in Sonoma County (@KoiNationTribe) February 8, 2025

In addition to FIGR, three other nearby tribes—Dry Creek Rancheria, Cloverdale Rancheria, and Lytton Rancheria—launched a distinct lawsuit against the DOI, claiming that this approval disregards the rights of Sonoma County’s historic tribes. “It undermines tribal self-determination and disrespects the cultural heritage of our people,” said Lytton Rancheria Chairperson Andy Mejia.

Growing Non-Tribal Opposition

Surprisingly, the state of California and local officials have also joined the opposition. In May, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office filed a lawsuit against the DOI, echoing the concerns of tribal entities regarding the restored lands exception. Prior to the official approval, Newsom had urged the DOI to reject the proposal.

“The records used by the Interior Department are insufficient to substantiate that the acquisition of the Shiloh Site constitutes a ‘restoration’ of Koi Nation’s lands. Therefore, the decision is contrary to law and is otherwise arbitrary and capricious,” claims the suit, as reported by Courthouse News Service.

Locally, Lynda Hopkins, representing the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and Windsor Town Manager Jon Davis have filed briefs in support of FIGR’s case. Both officials expressed their communities’ opposition to the project due to the area’s restrictions on commercial development and concerns of wildfire risks.

🔥 Wildfire activity is up across California as conditions worsen. Just this week, CAL FIRE has responded to hundreds of wildfires. Our crews are prepared, but community action is essential to prevent future fires.

With rising temperatures and dry conditions…

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) May 31, 2025

In response, the Koi Nation has filed its own briefs, asserting that the DOI’s ruling was “not a close call.”

Precedent of Rescinded Approvals

Opponents like FIGR are hopeful that the DOI will retract the Koi project approval, as it did with another contentious Biden-era approval in California. In January, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians also received expedited approval for an off-reservation casino in Vallejo, only for it to be rescinded in late March for further review by current DOI Secretary Doug Burgum. This case similarly features arguments concerning land rights and federal-state relations.

Following the retraction, Scotts Valley filed a lawsuit, but a federal court has denied intervention requests. The DOI has yet to provide updates on this approval.

Meanwhile, FIGR has adapted its political strategy, with allegations suggesting a bid to influence outcomes in the Koi case. Historically known for supporting Democratic initiatives, FIGR has redirected millions toward Republican groups this year, as noted by the Press Democrat. Republicans currently dominate both chambers of Congress, and Burgum is affiliated with the same party.

“We support causes we believe in, regardless of political affiliation,” Sarris emphasized. “As the original inhabitants of these lands, we advocate for environmental stewardship, social justice, and the sovereignty rights of tribes.”