Before leaving office, the Biden administration approved several off-reservation casinos nationwide.
One significant approval was for a class II casino in Jackson County, Oregon, proposed by the Coos Bay Coquille Tribe. Given that the new casino site is approximately 165 miles from the tribe’s reservation, neighboring tribes are expected to pursue legal action.
Oregon and California only permit tribal casinos to be physically located on reservations. However, the federal government is responsible for regulating and deeming what land is placed into trust. The Coos Bay Coquille Tribe was able to get land they purchased placed into trust despite its physical location away from the reservation, therefore paving the way for a new off-reservation casino.
In California, the Koi Nation has been seeking land for a new casino project about 50 miles south of its reservation. The Koi Nation also received approval from the outgoing Biden administration to build a casino in Windsor; however, the approval has also met resistance from other local tribes, who are expected to seek further legal action.
Tribal California Casinos
There are no commercial casinos in the state; however, there are 75+ Indian casinos in California offering class II and class III gaming options. California casinos are all located on tribal land; however, the new Koi Nation approval site will be the state’s first off-reservation casino if allowed.
Koi Nation’s construction of its third casino in Windsor, Sonoma County, California, would also add a third casino to the area. Opponents of the off-reservation build argue that the administration’s approval of the project is a travesty.
California Online Casinos
Tribal casinos in California are not allowed to offer their services online as the state has passed no online gambling laws. However, online California casinos are still available from out-of-state sites that are legally licensed and operate to US players.
Online casinos have accepted CA players since the early 90s and have become the most trusted sources for many players looking to wager on slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, and other popular casino games online. For now, CA players over the age of 18 have a slew of online gambling options, but if the state decides to allow off-site casinos, new legislation could be drafted to include or exclude online services.