Opponents of a compact between the state of California and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians that would allow for a casino in Madera County have far outstripped supporters in fund-raising to fight Proposition 48, which would approve of the compact.
The tribe proposes to build a casino with 2,000 slot machines on off-reservation land that the federal government is allowing be put into trust.
Opponents of Prop. 48 have raised $7.8 million to fight the compact, compared to $384,000 raised by supporters. Supporters include the tribe, of course, and its partner Station Casinos. Opponents include tribes that operate the neighboring Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold — and Table Mountain Rancheria. Table Mountain Rancheria is contributing $5.4 million of that.
What is different about this battle is that it is the first time in California that a tribe has been allowed to put land into trust that it acquired at a distance from its ancestral homeland.
