The Enterprise Rancheria of California, with a final court victory with a positive decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, is contemplating a “Hard Rock Sacramento” casino.
Although the tribe hasn’t confirmed such plans, Moody’s Investors Service has revealed that Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment Inc. is working on such a project with the Northern California tribe. The casino will be about 35 miles north of the state capital. An October 2019 opening is planned.
While declining to confirm the report, Charles Altekruse, a spokesman for the tribe, told the Marysville Appeal-Democrat, “We are moving ahead with preliminary steps to put the pieces together to get fully engaged in construction. We are hoping to make a big announcement in the near future.”
May 2 the 9th Circuit rejected several challenges to the tribe’s land into trust action by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, an action the Supreme Court declined to overrule. A rival gaming tribe, the Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, owners of the Colusa Casino Resort, asserted that the Interior Department failed to consult with them before reaching its decision.
The Enterprise Rancheria had initially broken ground on Fire Mountain Casino, in April 2016, but halted work under the barrage of lawsuits.
The Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians have asked for the 9th Circuit to rehear their appeal. If it declines, they could still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
