The Wilton Rancheria in Northern California is still awaiting approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs of its management agreement with Boyd Gaming for its proposed casino.
A notice has been published in the Federal Register stating that the BIA is still reviewing the agreement to see if it conforms to federal law.
According to the notice: “The National Indian Gaming Commission chairman’s approval is necessary for the management agreement to take effect,” says the notice. “The tribe has therefore requested that the NIGC chairman approve a management agreement between the tribe and BGM which would allow BGM to manage the tribe’s gaming facility on the tribe’s trust property in Elk Grove, California.”
The federal government put 36 acres in Elk Grove into trust for the tribe in January 2017, one of the final acts of the Obama administration. This was followed a year later by a tribal state gaming compact with Governor Jerry Brown. The management agreement is almost the last thing required for the casino to go forward.
Boyd plans to build a $400 million casino about 20 miles from the state capital of Sacramento.
